Assessment and management of environmental noise

The Council held an open policy debate which made clear the desire of delegations to reach a common position on the subject as soon as possible. The delegations recognised the usefulness of: - common noise indicators which might be used to establish comparable noise maps, subject to examination of such indicators and on the establishment of a reasonable timeframe for their introduction; - the establishment by the competent authorities in the Member States of action plans to reduce the harmful effects of exposure to noise, subject to determination of their scope and content and subject to a balanced being found between Community obligations and the flexibility needed to allow the development of national, regional and local initiatives and the development of Community policy on the sources of noise (motors and machinery used outdoors, vehicles, etc); - the Commission drawing up an interim survey setting forth the lessons to be learned from the implementation of the Directive, and outlining prospects for the future. The Council agreed to return to this subject at its December meeting, with the aim of reaching a common position in the light of the Opinion of the European Parliament.�