WRITTEN QUESTION P-0408/04 by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Implementation of the Environmental Noise Directive in the Netherlands.
Date: 2004-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Netherlands, airport, application of EU law, noise protection

C 84 E/786

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

(cid:1) FP6 has introduced a new financial and legal framework for SME activities. By contrast with other
FP6 instruments, there is no collective financial responsibility among the partners of SME activities,
thus leading to the implementation of controls required by the Financial Regulation (1) of
the
Community. However, the Commission intends to significantly reduce the cycle time from project
proposal selection to contract preparation, signature and payment of the Community pre-financing.

(cid:1) The Commission aim at providing assistance to SME’s in a way which responds best to their needs.
In order to facilitate the constitution of consortia and the elaboration of proposals for research
contracts, the Commission contributes actively through the organisation or the participation to
information sessions and brokerage events, and the maintenance of help desks on technical, legal or
financial issues related to FP6 contracts, within the limits and full respect of financial and management
requirements.

(1) Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the
implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the
general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 357, 31.12.2002.

(2004/C 84 E/0882)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0408/04

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 February 2004)

Subject: Implementation of the Environmental Noise Directive in the Netherlands

Directive 2002/49/EC (1) on the management of environmental noise requires every Member State to make
environmental noise maps for all major airports which have more than 50 000 movements per year.

Correspondence between the Netherlands Government and the Second Chamber
the
Netherlands is planning to make an environmental noise map and draw up an accompanying action plan
solely in respect of Schiphol Airport.

shows that

Movement data provided by the Central Statistical Office in 2001 show a different picture. The airports in
Rotterdam (92 874), Groningen (61 324) and Maastricht (58 534) are already above the 50 000 limit, while
Lelystad, with 47 135 movements, has almost reached the critical threshold.

Can the European Commission publish a definitive list of all the airports in the Netherlands which have
more than 50 000 movements?

What will the Commission do if the Netherlands remains in breach of its obligations?

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

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(10 March 2004)

The Commission has been interested to note the Written Question from the Honourable Member
concerning the implementation of 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) in the Netherlands.

In accordance with 7(1) of
the Directive, Member States have until 30 June 2005 to inform the
Commission about the airports situated within their territory which are covered by the scope of the
Directive. These airports are defined in Article 3(p) of the Directive as ‘civil airports, designated by the
Member State, which have more than 50 000 movements per year (a movement being a take-off or a
landing), excluding those purely for training purposes on light aircraft’.

3.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/787

Furthermore, pursuant to Article 14, Member States have until 18 July 2004 to transpose Directive 2002/
49/EC into their national
the Commission has not received notification of
transposition from the Netherlands.

legal order. To date,

In view of the above, the Commission does not presently have the list of Dutch airports covered by the
scope of Directive 2002/49/EC but considers that it is not appropriate to launch infringement proceedings
against the Dutch Government. It wishes to thank the Honourable Member for drawing its attention to this
particular point and will see to it that the provisions of the Directive on environmental noise are applied
by the Member States to all infrastructures and agglomerations covered by its scope.

(1) OJ L 189, 18.7.2002.

(2004/C 84 E/0883)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0410/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: Aer Rianta

Is the Commission aware of, and is it monitoring, the Irish Government’s plans to break up Aer Rianta,
the state-owned company responsible for the operation, management and development of Dublin,
Shannon and Cork Airports? Does the Commission believe that plans to transfer the entire Aer Rianta debt
to Dublin Airport comply with Article 92 of the EC Treaty?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2004)

Although not aware of an assumption of debt as described by the Honourable Member, the Commission is
aware from press reports that Aer Rianta is currently building a new terminal and other supporting
infrastructures at Cork Airport. It is also reported that the cost of this investment is to be borne by the
company as a whole and it is presumed that it is to this financial arrangement that the Honourable
Member is referring.

The Commission will keep a watching brief on this situation to decide if an action under State aid rules is
appropriate.

(2004/C 84 E/0884)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0412/04

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: The regulation of exportation of timber from Indonesia

(17 February 2004)

On the western and central islands of Indonesia including Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi, organised
groups have been illegally logging parts of the rain forests and exporting timber without regard for the
environment and the local communities that depend on it. West Papua is now in danger of being targeted
by these groups.

Can the Commission outline what measures are being taken to ensure that timber imported into the EU
has been correctly logged, recorded and legally exported according to the laws of Indonesia and the trade
agreements operating between the EU, Indonesia and the World Trade Organisation?