Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the "Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at Community airports"
Date: 2002-03-14
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: EC recommendation, aeronautical industry, air traffic, airport, noise protection, public health

12.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 192/63

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the ‘Proposal for a Directive of the European
Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of rules and procedures with regard to the
introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at Community airports’

(2002/C 192/15)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the
establishment of rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating
restrictions at Community airports (COM(2001) 695 final);

having regard to the Council’s decision of 29 January 2002 to consult the Committee of the Regions,
under Article 80(2) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the matter;

having regard to the Bureau’s decision of 6 February 2002 to instruct the Commission for Sustainable
Development to undertake the preparatory work;

having regard to its president’s decision of 13 March 2002 to appoint Mr Wim van Gelder (NL-EPP) as
rapporteur-general for this opinion, under Rule 40(2) of the Rules of Procedure;

having regard to the opinion unanimously adopted by the Committee of the Regions on 14 June 2000
on the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic
and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on Air Transport and the Environment: Towards
meeting the Challenges of Sustainable Development (CdR 14/2000 fin) (1);

having regard to the opinion adopted by the Committee of the Regions on 14 February 2001 on the
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council relating to the Assessment and
Management of Environmental Noise (COM(2000) 486 final — 2000/0194 (COD)/CdR 271/2000
fin) (2),

unanimously adopted the following opinion at its 43rd plenary session held on 13 and 14 March 2002
(meeting of 14 March).

Views and recommendations of the Committee of the
Regions

The Committee of the Regions

considerations, i.e. the need for an acceptable reduction in
environmental noise. This last point is particularly important
for efforts to maintain the quality of life of people living in the
direct vicinity of airports;

notes that any proper assessment of the draft directive
1.
requires thorough technical knowledge of the various different
components of the aviation sector as a whole;

2.
feels that at this stage in decision-making — bearing in
mind the point made above, and also taking account of the
very tight deadline for this opinion — the Committee will
have to confine itself to making a clear reference to earlier
recommendations set out in CoR opinions on the issue, as
indicated in the recitals above;

3.
emphasises that any proposal must be based on the need
to strike a balance between aviation industry interests and (i)
the often significant social and economic implications these
entail for regions, (ii) consumer concerns and (iii) ecological

(1) OJ C 317, 6.11.2000 p. 31.
(2) OJ C 148, 18.5.2001 p. 7.

4.
in order to give more substance to a balanced promotion
of interests in this field — which is one part of the wider
aviation issue — fully supports an existing European Com-
mission plan. This involves setting up a technical working
party to assist the appropriate directorate-general in making a
detailed study of the various policy implications of airport-
related environmental noise. Realistic objectives and clearly
defined tasks could be laid down. The guiding principle is that
any line of action should be specific, measurable, acceptable,
realistic and time-limited (so-called ‘smart’ options);

5.
with regard to European regional involvement in consul-
tations on (regional) aviation issues, draws attention to the
Airport Regions Conference, an international discussion and
consultation forum. The forum is made up of 28 European
regions that are particularly concerned by the need for

C 192/64

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

12.8.2002

an overall assessment of the environmental implications of
aviation noise, and could carry out useful consultative work
for the European Commission and the Committee of the

In this connection,

Regions.
the mutual exchange of
information among experts and the regional application of
examples of best practice could be considered.

Brussels 14 March 2002.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Albert BORE

Resolution of the Committee of the Regions on the ‘Work Programme of the European
Commission’

(2002/C 192/16)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to The Communication of the European Commission to the European Parliament, the
Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — The
Commission’s Work Programme 2002 (COM(2001) 620);

having regard to The resolution of the European Parliament to the Commission’s Work Programme 2002
(B5-0821/2001);

having regard to The 2001 Annual Statement on the Priority of the Committee of the Regions (CdR 45/
2001 fin);

having regard to The Protocol governing arrangements for cooperation between the European
Commission and the Committee of the Regions (DI CdR 81/2001 rev. 2);

whereas Events since 11 September have made us acutely aware of the value of peace, democracy and
human rights, and that they cannot be taken for granted;

whereas European integration has proven to be by far the best way to achieve peace and prosperity; that
the forthcoming enlargement of the EU is a historic peace operation that brings stability, prosperity and
democracy to almost the entire continent;

whereas Grassroots support is not optional, but a pre-condition for successful European integration,
whereas top-down, exclusive decision-making alienates the citizens and puts the European project at risk;

whereas The Committee of the Regions will adopt its Political Priorities for the period 2002-2006 in May,

adopted by a majority the following resolution at its 43rd plenary session of 13 and 14 March 2002
(meeting of 13 March).