WRITTEN QUESTION E-3302/03 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Noise abatement plans (Directive 2002/49/EC).
Date: 2003-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Germany, application of EU law, national implementing measure, noise pollution, noise protection, quality of the environment

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/517

(2004/C 78 E/0537)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3302/03

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(10 November 2003)

Subject: Noise abatement plans (Directive 2002/49/EC)

With the aim of assessing and managing environmental noise, Directive 2002/49/EC (1) of the European
Parliament and of the Council was adopted on 25 June 2002. By 18 July 2005 it requires the Member
States to compile strategic noise maps, using common assessment methods, to record levels of noise
nuisance along main roads and main railway lines, around major airports and in conurbations.

In Germany it has already been the case since 1990 that, pursuant to Article 47a of the Federal Pollution
Control Act, in areas where noise damages or may be expected to damage the environment, the level of
exposure to noise from the relevant sources must be measured and its impact on the environment
determined. By law, Länder and communes must draw up noise abatement plans.
In Saarland, no
commune has so far submitted a noise abatement plan pursuant to Article 47a of the Federal Pollution
Control Act. This may be because drawing up such plans costs money and the plans will affect everybody
in a commune.

1. What will be done to ensure that the governments of the Member States do not take advantage of
the 2005 deadline set by the directive to delay the implementation of domestic law?

2. Will the EU provide financial support for the compilation of noise abatement plans?

(1) OJ L 189, 18.7.2002, p. 12.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 2003)

The Commission was interested to note the Written Question from the Honourable Member concerning
the link between Community legislation and national legislation on environmental noise and the possibility
of financial support from the Community for plans to reduce noise nuisance.

On the first point, pursuant to Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of
25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise (1), which entered into
force on 18 July 2002, the competent authorities in the Member States are obliged to draw up strategic
noise maps in the vicinity of the major transport infrastructures and in major conurbations, based on
common indicators, to inform the public about exposure to noise and its effects, and to implement action
plans to reduce noise wherever necessary and to preserve the quality of the noise environment wherever it
is good. The Directive has to be transposed into the national legislation of the Member States no later than
18 July 2004, the first noise maps have to be drawn up no later than 30 June 2007, and the first action
plans no later than 18 July 2008.

With regard to the link between existing national
legislation on noise and Directive 2002/49/EC, the
competent authorities in the Member States are free to implement the provisions of the Directive earlier,
this possibility being at their entire discretion.

On the second point, there is no specific Community funding to combat environmental noise. However,
projects in this field could be given financial support under existing mechanisms, including the financial
instrument for the environment (LIFE).

(1) OJ L 189, 18.7.2002.