91999E1735

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1735/99

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 September 1999)

Subject: Rules on cross-border noise nuisance

Following questions from concerned inhabitants of the border region between Belgium and the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands.

I should like to ask:

1. What is the Commission's view on the absence of European rules on combating and controlling cross-border noise and vibration nuisance in general, and caused by industrial complexes in particular?

2. What is the Commission's view of the need for laying down European rules in this respect?

3. Can the Commission say what action it will take in this field and what timescale is involved?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 1999)

The Commission is aware that present European and national legislation cannot deal properly with noise and vibration generated in neighbouring Member States. In particular, the Commission is aware of industrial sites and airports that are causing problems across borders and about the difficulties faced by local and national authorities handling these cases. The Commission believes that some harmonisation of noise legislation would considerably simplify the tasks of these authorities in seeking improvements.

The Commission's green paper on future noise policy(1) gave many reasons to undertake some harmonisation of noise legislation. As a direct result the Commission is therefore considering presenting a directive on environmental noise exposure that will provide a basis for such harmonisation. A major element of such a directive would be the harmonisation of indicators and assessment methods. In order to have clarity in discussion and information exchange, other elements will be European wide noise mapping, local action plans, publication of data by the Commission and further improvement of the Community noise emission policy. The Commission hopes to present a proposal for such a directive to Council and Parliament in the course of 2000.

The Commission has no intention at this time to include vibrations in such a proposal or to prepare a separate directive on that subject.

(1) COM(96) 540 final.