WRITTEN QUESTION E-1618/01 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Community noise abatement legislation.
Date: 2001-06-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, competence of the Member States, noise protection

C 350 E/200

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

(2001/C 350 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1607/01

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: New measures to combat drug use

(1 June 2001)

Studies on drug use have revealed a slight rise in some Member States in the age of first contact with
drugs, an increase in the number of people using alcohol and cannabis and a fall in the use of hard drugs
such as heroin, while the numbers taking other illegal substances have stabilised.

Many governments have already reformed various aspects of their legal systems in connection with the
fight against drug trafficking. Measures include introducing a closer correlation between the sentence
imposed and the quantity of drugs seized, a greater range of sentences for small-scale traffickers and
reduced sentences for those who co-operate with the authorities. Such measures have reinforced the fight
against drug trafficking given that, although patterns of drug use and the profile of drug users may change,
drug use remains prevalent.

Given the constant changes in drug trafficking, how is the Commission encouraging all Member States to
adopt more up-to-date, robust and rigorous rules to combat this phenomenon?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2001)

The Member States and the Community share responsibility for policy and legislation on the prevention of
drug abuse.

Since 1990 the Union has stressed the need for an overall multidisciplinary and integrated approach to the
fight against drugs based on action in four main areas: (i) reduction of demand; (ii) reduction of supply and
measures to combat illegal trafficking; (iii) international co-operation; (iv) coordination at national and EU
levels.

On 23 May 2001, to meet the challenge posed by the traffickers who supply the population with narcotics
and psychotropic substances, the Commission approved a proposal for a Council framework decision
laying down minimum provisions on the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in the field of
illicit drug trafficking (1). Such a proposal had been called for in the conclusions of the Tampere European
Council of 15 and 16 October 1999 and in the European Action Plan to Combat Drugs (2000-2004) (2).

As the Honourable Member has pointed out, it is important that the Union should clearly demonstrate its
commitment to the fight against drug trafficking, which poses a threat to people(cid:146)s health, security and
laying down a common
quality of life, by adopting the proposal for a Council framework decision,
approach in the field of criminal law and strengthening co-operation between Member States.

(1) COM(2001) 259/4.
(2) COM(1999) 239 final.

(2001/C 350 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1618/01

by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Community noise abatement legislation

(12 June 2001)

For the first time ever, the residents of the historic centre of Malaga have mobilised under the slogan
(cid:145)Endless sleepless nights destroy body and soul(cid:146), and have set up a committee to protest against the

11.12.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/201

circumstance that Malaga is one of the noisiest cities in Europe, with a noise level in excess of 65 decibels,
the level considered harmful by the WHO.

Can the Commission give an account of the general and environmental legislation at EU level under which
the public is protected against noise, given that existing noise levels are causing these Malaga residents so
much damage (physical damage included) that they have decided to launch a crusade to fight this form of
sound pollution?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(25 July 2001)

The Commission has received several complaints that are of a similar nature to that cited in the
Honourable Member(cid:146)s question.

The Community has not adopted legislation about acceptable levels of noise nuisance. This type of
problem is therefore currently a purely national challenge and the complainants should address their
concerns to the competent authorities in Spain.

However, the Commission has launched a proposal for a Directive for the assessment and management of
environmental noise (1). This was a follow up to mainly Parliament(cid:146)s responses to the earlier work on noise
that was presented as a Green Paper (2). The proposal is currently being examined by the Parliament and
the Council.

The proposal will ensure that the Member States assess levels of environmental noise and inform the
public about the result of their assessment and their plans to reduce the noise nuisance.

(1) OJ C 337 E, 28.11.2000.
(2) COM(96) 540 final.

(2001/C 350 E/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1620/01

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Statute of the European Foundation

(12 June 2001)

Numerous institutions, bodies and natural and legal persons from various Member States have been asking
when they will be able to make use of a legal instrument similar to that governing foundations in the
Member States.

A wide range of non-profit activities require a joint effort and commitment on the part of citizens of more
than one EU Member State, in order to carry out non-commercial activities of an altruistic nature.

A Statute of the European Foundation would provide them with a legal instrument for carrying out their
activities of cultural sponsorship, etc, in the general interest and on a non-profit basis.

Can the Commission describe the present situation as regards the project for a Statute of the European
Foundation? On what basis does the Commission believe such a Statute could be fully operative for the
purposes outlined above, in the near future?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(25 July 2001)

In 1992 the Commission presented three proposals for Statutes for the creation of a European Co-
operative, European Mutual Society and European Association (1). These were amended in 1993 in the
light of opinions of the European Parliament and Economic and Social Committee (2). These texts closely