WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3970/98 by Juan COLINO SALAMANCA Noise pollution and roads
C 348/8 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 12. 1999 The Commission has for several years been involved in evaluating the impact of its legislative 2. and 3. proposals, particularly the impact on the public and on businesses. The Commission has recommended that its departments should carry out evaluations not just when adopting proposals, but also throughout the legislative process (2). There have also been exchanges of information on best practice as regards evaluation techniques with the Member States and businesses, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In this connection, the Honourable Member’s attention is drawn to two important Commission initiatives: (a) (b) the SME impact assessment sheet which is attached to proposals likely to have a significant effect on businesses and SMEs in particular; it covers a detailed evaluation of the regulations, including a cost analysis where possible. the preliminary pilot project, launched in July 1998, concerning the business panel; the purpose of this project, which supplements the SME impact assessment sheet, is to evaluate, in conjunction with the Member States and by consulting businesses directly, the cost and consequences for them of new legislative proposals concerning the single market; Parliament was duly notified of this project, which is operating satisfactorily (Commission communication to the Council and Parliament; the business panel; a pilot project) (3). (1) OJ L 347, 23. 12. 1998. (2) (3) COM(98) 197 final. See General guidelines on legislative policy, Bull. EU 1/2-1996, point 1. 10. 11. (1999/C 348/008) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3970/98 by Juan Colino Salamanca (PSE) to the Commission (4 January 1999) Subject: Noise pollution and roads The Commission Green Paper on future noise policy (COM(96) 540 final) tackled the problem of road traffic noise at Community level. It can be concluded from the said document that the European Union funds the building of roads which comply with the highest possible environmental and safety standards from the Structural Funds, the Cohesion Fund and the budget heading for trans-European networks. Will the Commission say whether this Green Paper has since taken the form of a legal text of any kind to protect citizens exposed to noise pollution from road traffic on a given thoroughfare? If not, do any standards exist at European level requiring Member States to use porous asphalt or to erect noise protection walls on their domestic road networks? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (17 March 1999) Since the adoption of the green paper on future noise policy, the Commission has adopted a proposal for a directive on noise from outdoor equipment (1). The Parliament approved the proposal without amendments in May 1998, and the German Presidency is aiming to reach a common position in the Council in June. Furthermore, in the light of the response to the green paper, the Commission has started work on a framework directive on environmental noise, in close collaboration with experts from Member States, industry, non- governmental organisations and local authorities. There are no existing Community standards requiring Member States to use porous asphalt nor to erect noise protection barriers on their domestic road networks. Nor is it envisaged that future Community legislation will prescribe specific solutions of this kind, as this in the view of the Commission would not be compatible with the principle of subsidiarity. (1) COM(98) 46 final