EU policy on environment noise
The goal of the directive is to establish a common European approach, which - based on a prioritized foundation - aims to avoid, prevent or limit the effects, including annoyance, caused by exposure to environmental noise
In July 2000 the Commission issued a proposal for a Directive relating to the Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise (the Environmental Noise Directive). It concerns noise from road, rail and air traffic and industry. It focuses on the impacts of noise on individuals, and it complements existing EU legislation which sets standards for noise emissions from specific sources. The Directive 2002/49/EC was published in the Official Journal on 18 July 2002.
The goal of the directive is to establish a common European approach, which - based on a prioritized foundation - aims to avoid, prevent or limit the effects, including annoyance, caused by exposure to environmental noise. The underlying principles of this text, are similar to those for other overarching environment policy directives:
- Monitoring the environmental problem;
- Informing and consulting the public
- Addressing local noise issues
- Developing a long-term EU strategy,
As part of their implementation of the directive, the individual Member States have to draw up strategic noise maps and action plans aimed at preventing and reducing environmental noise which is the noise from road traffic, railways, aircraft, and industrial plant. In the first phase, noise maps have to be drawn up for urban areas with over 250,000 inhabitants, all major roads carrying more than 6 million vehicles a year, and major railways with over 60,000 passengers a year, and finally, the major airports. In the second phase, urban areas with over 100,000 inhabitants, all major roads carrying more than 3 million vehicles, and railways with over 30,000 passengers a year will also be covered.
The noise maps are to be drawn up using identical methods in all the EU countries, and information about noise is to be made available to the public. Finally, action plans have to be adopted which aim to prevent and reduce environmental noise when this noise can lead to harmful effects on human health.
The directive contains four elements:
- The harmonization of noise indicators and assessment methods for environmental noise
- The collection of information about noise exposure in the form of noise maps
- The preparation of action plans
- Informing and consulting residents
