The Commission has recently sent a reasoned opinion – the last step before a formal complaint to the Court of Justice is lodged – to Estonia, Latvia and Malta for…
The Commission has recently sent a reasoned opinion – the last step before a formal complaint to the Court of Justice is lodged – to Estonia, Latvia and Malta for failure to transpose European legislation regarding the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at European Union airports. Aviation noise pollution is a particularly important issue for European citizens. I therefore encourage the three new Member States concerned to apply as soon as possible this legislation that lays down rules to facilitate the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions in a consistent manner, said Vice-President Jacques Barrot, who is in charge of EU transport policy.
The Directive[1] provides a framework which safeguards internal market requirements by ensuring that similar solutions are applied if similar noise problems are identified at airports. In particular it provides a harmonized definition of marginally compliant airplanes and sets out the rules to be applied when introducing operating restrictions aimed at the withdrawal of this type of planes.
Whereas those three Member States should have taken measures to implement the Directive by 1 May 2004, date of their accession to the EU, they never communicated to the Commission the relevant national measures adopted. They now have two months to do so the Commission may bring the case before the European Court of Justice.
[1] Directive 2002/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 March 2002 on the establishment of rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at Community airports (Text with EEA relevance)
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