WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2849/98 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. Noise pollution in Rome
29. 4. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 118/153 (1999/C 118/191) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2834/98 by Niall Andrews (UPE) to the Commission (28 September 1998) Subject: European Youth Parliament Can the Commission say what the future holds for the European Youth Parliament following the recent ruling of the European Court of Justice (c/106/98-12 May 1998)? As a result of this ruling the European Commission has frozen some 100 lines of its budget. The European Youth Parliament is one of the organisations whose funding has been suspended. Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (20 October 1998) As the Honourable Member points out, the European youth parliament has in recent years received a subsidy under budget line B3-1000, which does not have a legal basis. On 10 June 1998, in response to the Court of justiceís judgment of 12 May 1998, the Commission, which has to ensure the correct application of Community legislation, decided to examine in depth the situation of budget lines without a legal basis. Simultaneously, as a precaution, payments connected with these lines were suspended. Following this analysis, the Commission was able to release most of these lines, at least partly, but this was not possible in the case of line B3-1000. However, the Commission has decided to examine on a case-by-case basis whether certain actions can continue to receive support, in 1998, under lines it was not able to release. The demands of the European youth parliament are being examined in this context. In future, the position set out in a recent opinion delivered by the Parliamentís committee on culture, youth, education and the media will be taken into account. During Parliamentís first reading of the draft 1999 budget, it recommended that the budget committee enter, in a new line created on the basis of part A of the budget, aid earmarked for activities of the type carried out by the European youth parliament. If the budgetary authority confirms this position, the problem of the lack of a legal basis which arose in 1998 will no longer apply next year. (1999/C 118/192) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2849/98 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (28 September 1998) Subject: Noise pollution in Rome In a city such as Rome noise pollution is a major problem: noise is produced not only by trains, motorcycles, mopeds, vehicles, the use of machines by those working outside, and so on, but also by a further source of noise pollution which should be mentioned, the Roman Summerí, a festival of cultural events, entertainment, games, gastronomy and sport. For a number of years the festival has been held in Rome under the sponsorship of Rome City Council, the Region of Lazio and the Province of Rome. The consequence of these events, for those living nearby, is a series of worrying health hazards caused by noise pollution produced by evening concerts, open-air discos, and a large influx of vehicles into the district, which continues late into the night. Italian law in this area provides for protection against noise pollution, under Framework Law No 447 of 26 October 1995. However, since Law No 447/95 is a framework law, if it is to be fully operative, concurrent legislative provisions must be issued, implementing ministerial decrees adopted and regional laws issued. Unfortunately, to date, the adoption of these ministerial provisions has not been completed and no regional law exists yet. As a result, Rome City Council is not able to adopt rules to protect against noise pollution