WRITTEN QUESTION E-1883/99 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission. Urban communities in the proximity of airports.
C 303 E/16 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 (2000/C 303 E/012) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1787/99 by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission (11 October 1999) Subject: EU regulation on the harmonisation of technical requirements in aviation In the light of the failure of some Member States to implement the Joint Aviation Authorityís common standard, which allows holders of Airline Transport Pilot Licences to continue to fly up to the age of 65, does not the Commission consider that, in the spirit of the principle of the free movement of persons, this standard should be adopted as part of EC Regulation 3922/91 (1) which seeks to harmonise standards in aviation? Could the Commission also outline how talks on the proposed creation of a European Air Safety Authority to replace the Joint Aviation Authority, are progressing and when such a body is likely to be inaugurated? (1) OJ L 373, 31. 12. 1991, p. 4. Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (14 February 2000) As regards the implementation of the Joint aviation authorities suggestions on age limits for pilots as common standard, the Commission can inform the Honourable Member that it is currently working on a proposal to harmonise standards and requirements for flight crew licensing throughout the Community. However, it cannot specify for the time being whether this proposal will be adopted and if so, whether as part of Council Regulation (EEC) 3922/91 of 16 December 1991 on the harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation (1) or as an independent proposal. Regarding the establishment of the European Aviation Safety Authority, the Council has mandated the Commission on 16 July 1998 to start negotiations for the creation of this authority. While the Commission has achieved a draft Convention that meets with all the elements of the mandate, it appears that to accommodate, especially as regards constitutional constraints. the creation of such an organisation with supra-national powers is difficult (1) OJ L 373, 31. 12. 1991. (2000/C 303 E/013) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1883/99 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission (29 October 1999) Subject: Urban communities in the proximity of airports Via Mrs Bjerregaardís response to the written question E-3254/97 (1) on 19 November 1997, the Commission undertook to draw up a framework proposal on noise pollution for the start of 1999. This proposal still does not formally exist today. Could the Commission report upon whether or not measures to combat noise pollution at airports might be introduced into this framework proposal, with the aim of confronting and overcoming the problem of coexistence and quality of life faced by those urban communities nearby? 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