92002E2022

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2022/02

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(9 July 2002)

Subject: Night flight restrictions at German airports

Night flight restrictions are in operation at Munich, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Hamburg and Bremen airports, which strictly limit the volume of air traffic at night and thereby ensure a degree of peace and quiet

during the night. However, such restrictions do not apply at any other international airports in Germany. Only noisy aircraft are banned from flying at those airports, while no restrictions apply on the number of flights of Chapter III aircraft, which are classified as quiet.

Tour operators exploit these differences in night flight regulations by deliberately flying into the latter airports at night to make optimum use of their fleet capacity with the result that air traffic at those airports is shifting more and more to night-time, as is the case at Hanover.

Night flight restrictions are usually of limited duration and an extension or new notification not only affects thousands of individuals' sleep but also constitutes an intervention in the night-time tranquillity of the natural environment under Article 1(2) of Directive 85/337/EEC(1). Does the Commission agree that an extension to or new notification of such night flight restrictions are subject to an environmental impact assessment requirement?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.

Joint answerto Written Questions E-2022/02 and E-2023/02given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(2 August 2002)

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive, Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997(1), covers projects which are listed in its annexes I and II and which require a development consent. The extension of an existing permit or a new night flight permit is not covered by the definition of a project under the EIA Directive. Similarly, air routes and their allocation to existing runways are not covered by the definition of a project under the EIA Directive.

(1) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.