WRITTEN QUESTION E-3120/03 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Noise pollution.
Date: 2003-10-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financial instrument, action programme, motorway, noise, noise protection, road transport, rural region, transport infrastructure

C 78 E/782

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

for offsetting part of the reduction. In addition, the promotion committees have noted that the effect (cid:1) in
terms of promotion (cid:1) of the deduction of merit points in 2003 was too strong in the context of a
transition period based on increasing promotion thresholds (i.e. the ratio ‘lost points due to leave on
personal grounds/promotion threshold’ is currently higher than it would be in a ‘stable’ system).

The Commission has taken all these observations into account and consequently proposes to correct
retroactively all the deductions made in order to bring them in line with the estimated ratio in a stable
system. This proposal
is included in an annex to the new draft general provisions for implementing
Article 45 of the Staff Regulations that were adopted on 21 January 2004 and are now subject to statutory
consultations before final approval.

Once adopted, this decision would have the effect of significantly lowering the impact of leave on personal
grounds on promotion possibilities. For example, the loss of 7 points (absence of an official with a mark of
14/20 during half the reference period) would be reduced to a loss of only 2,5 points (based on the
hypothesis that the official in question’s seniority in grade is 4 years and the average seniority in grade is 5
years).

(1) OJ C 291 E, 26.11.2002.

(2004/C 78 E/0832)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3120/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 October 2003)

Subject: Noise pollution

Does the Commission intend to make available funding opportunities for local projects that will tackle the
adverse effects of noise pollution in rural areas, for example, noise reduction barriers on motorways that
run close to residential areas?

Can the Commission state how the Environmental Noise Directive will assist people living in rural areas
but who suffer from the adverse effects (a reduced quality of life, stress) of persistent noise from nearby
motorways?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2003)

The Commission is not planning to establish an EU funding instrument specifically for tackling noise
pollution. However, projects in this field could be given financial support under existing mechanisms,
including the financial instrument for the environment (LIFE).

Under Directive 2002/49/CE (1) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to
the assessment and management of environmental noise, which entered into force on 18 July 2002, the
authorities in the Member States are required to draw up strategic noise maps in the vicinity of major
transport infrastructure, including roads, and within the major conglomerations, on the basis of common
indicators, to inform the public about exposure to noise and its effects, and to develop action plans to
reduce noise, where necessary, and to preserve the quality of the acoustic environment where it is good.

With regard more especially to road infrastructure, noise maps and action plans have to be drawn up in
2007 and 2008, respectively, for major routes which have more than six million passenger vehicles a year.
As a second stage, in 2012 and 2013, maps and action plans will have to be drawn up for major roads
with more than three million passenger vehicles a year.

These maps and action plans will concern noise pollution generated by road infrastructure in urban areas
as well as in rural areas.

(1) OJ L 189, 18.7.2002.