WRITTEN QUESTION E-1903/99 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Esprit Programme (1994-1998).
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/17 Does the Commission intend to introduce a directive with the aim of reducing noise pollution in the proximity of airports, as requested by Parliament in its Resolution A4-0183/97 (2) on the Commission Green Paper, Noise pollution control policy for the futureí of 10 June 1997? (1) OJ C 158, 25. 5. 1998, p. 71. (2) OJ C 200, 30. 6. 1997, p. 28. Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (22 February 2000) As part of the Commission overall environmental policy, the forthcoming framework directive on the assessment and reduction of environmental noise exposure aims at introducing common noise indicators for the perception of noise, establishing common noise exposure assessment methods and allowing for the assessment of the current levels of noise exposure for urbanised areas by means of noise mapping. In this context, this framework directive will establish the general basis for an improvement in the level of noise exposure. It is, thus, not specific for air transport. However, the workprogramme of the Commission for 2000, which was adopted on 9 February 2000, includes a specific measure targeting noise around airports. The Commission intends to present later this year to the Parliament and the Council a proposal for a directive on the establishment of a common noise index, a common method of computing noise and minimal requirements for monitoring noise around airports. This initiative should contribute to a reduction of noise in the areas surrounding airports. (2000/C 303 E/014) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1903/99 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission (29 October 1999) Subject: Esprit Programme (1994-1998) Will the Commission state what agencies (public or private), institutions, companies, cooperatives and individuals have been allocated funding (specifying whether payments have already been made) under the Esprit programme (1994-1998) within the fourth framework programme in the field of research (budget ü ECU 2 057 million, equal to LIT 3 982 billion) and how much each of them has been granted? Has it checked how the amounts have actually been used and whether the proposed measures have been successfully implemented? (2000/C 303 E/015) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2097/99 by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission (19 November 1999) Subject: The Esprit programme Over the last few years, a number of programmes and Community initiatives have been adopted and implemented in the field of research and technology. However, the only programme specifically devoted to the development of research and technology in the industrial sector is the Esprit programme