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30 april 2015

EUROCITIES: positionson EU Noise policyOptions for a revised END?

Miriam Weber & Henk Wolfert

EPA

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• EUROCITIES Working Group Noise• Position on END• Initiatives on EU Noise Policy

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3 EUROCITIES and Noise policy

• EUROCITIES network founded in 1986consisting of over 130 cities in ca. 34 EUcountries

• Working group noise consists of noiseexperts from Amsterdam, Antwerp,Belfast, Bristol Brno, Copenhagen,Dublin, Helsinki, Istanbul, Lille, Lyon,Madrid, Mannheim, Munich, Oslo,Rotterdam, Sheffield, Tallinn, The Hague,Turin, Utrecht, Zagreb, Zaragoza.

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4 Objectives WG Noise

• Exchange knowledge & experiences• Lobbying towards EC, EP and European

Council• Networking• Promoting/awareness public &

politicians• Projects (participation/initiatives/supportive)

• Congresses, workshops andsymposiums

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5 EUROCITIES on END (1)

From Position Paper on END (September 2009)1. Commission should monitor 2nd round noise

mapping (time, substance, bias)2. Noise Maps should consider future situations3. Cumulative Noise Maps should be made

mandatory (support policies)4. Cross border coordination with regard to noise

mapping should be strengthened5. Noise contours of military activities should be made

available6. SMART action plans should be required7. Noise mapping should consider levels from 40 dB

Lden and 35 dB Lnight

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6 EUROCITIES on END (2)

From Position Paper on END (September 2009)8. Inclusion of target and/or limit values should be

considered9. Involvement of public/stakeholders should be

strengthened10.Citizens should be engaged in action planning, e.g.

through addressing noise from scooters, music etc11.Revise Good Practice Guide on Noise Mapping12.Priority should be given to noise source directives13.Redefine or specify specific definitions, concepts14.(Requirements on) Protection of quiet areas should

be strengthened

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7 EUROCITIES on review END

From Letter to Mr. Potocnik, Commissioner for Environment,on Task-3 Report review END (March 2010)

• Support for proposal for minor adjustments of ENDregarding omissions and clarifications (options 2 to 4), andfor lining up with Air Quality Directive regarding timelines,definition of agglomeration, administrative requirements(option 5).

• Comment on limited attention paid at “steeringphilosophy”, e.g. introduction of limit values and/orstringent noise source policy (options 6 and 7). Proposalto have gradual / phased introduction of noise limit values.

• Introduction of Interim Target for night time noise, with firststep obligation to map noise from 40 dB Lnight, followedby cost – benefit analyses.

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8 EUROCITIES on review END (2)

From Letter to Mr. Potocnik, (March 2010)• Strengthen (insight in) cost benefits and e.g.

invest in quiet road surfaces paid through road orfuel charges

• Introduce emission cap for car manufacturers• Develop action plan by EU Commission aimed at

noise source legislation and policy• Noise from railway traffic is mostly missing in

report, although more stringent TSIs could beintroduced

• Impacts from air traffic noise seem to beunderestimated.

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9 EUROCITIES on CNOSSOS

From Letter to Mr Leinen, Cee for Environment,Public Health and Food (March 2011)

• Follow up letter on reaction June 2010 to EUCommission on limited progress of providingEuropean Harmonised Assessment Method

• Information on stagnation caused by somenational representatives

• Proposal on establishment of reference centre onNoise in Europe for management, support andfurther development of CNOSSOS-EU andfacilitate implementation of method in MSs (JRC)

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10 EUROCITIES on Vehicle noise

From Letter to Mr Tajani, Vice President EUCommission (April 2011)

• Support for letter from EU experts on:– Underestimation of benefits and overestimation of

costs of stringent noise emission limits for cars aspresented by European Automobile Manufacturers’Association (ACEA)

– Importance to improve noise standards for heavyvehicles as well

– Importance to develop noise standards for motorcycles• Support for TNO report (VENOLIVA)• Concern about introducing sounds to electric,

quiet cars

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11 EUROCITIES: future activities

Suggestions on:• Issues, content and actors?• Cooperation with…?• Research needs?• And more?

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