Noise

What is the EU doing?

In its 6th Environmental Action Programme the EU has committed to substantially reducing the number of people regularly affected by long-term levels of noise - in particular from traffic. The Commission’s Communication on the 6th Environmental Action Programme has adopted a more concrete target: to achieve a reduction of 20% by 2020 in the number of people regularly affected by long term high noise levels from an estimated 100 million people in 2000 .

The EU adopted the Directive on Environmental Noise in 2002. This provides a legal framework to address noise across the EU and obliges Member States to:

  • Draw up "strategic noise maps" for major roads, railways, airports and agglomerations using the harmonised noise indicators Lden (day-evening-night equivalent level) and Lnight (night equivalent level);
  • Draw up action plans to reduce noise “where necessary” and maintain environmental noise quality where it is good.
  • Inform the public about noise exposure, its effects and proposed measures to address high levels of noise.

Pursuant to article 11 of the Environment Noise Directive, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on its implementation. Based on this report, the Commission is expected to propose amendments to the current Directive. Progress of the reviewing process can be viewed here.

Other EU Noise Policies

A wide range of Directives addressing high noise levels at source (road traffic, aircraft, railway and equipment for use outdoors) has also been adopted at EU level. An overview of these legislations can be viewed here.

Useful links:
European Commission’s Environment webpage on noise
The European Commission’s Noise Expert Network

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