Brussels, 27/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has announced plans to tighten noise limits for motor vehicles. At a conference organised by Transport & Environment (T&E), the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and the Health and Environment Alliance (Heal), Philippe Jean of the European Commission announced that the European executive would bring forward plans before September to cut noise emissions from cars by 4 decibels and from lorries by 3 decibels. The new provisions will be phased in over the four years following a new directive on noise pollution from motor vehicles. The announcement received a relatively warm welcome from health and environmental organisations, though they would have preferred to see a sterner approach to noise which they see as an important public health issue. According to the WHO (World Health Organisation) noise from the engines of motor vehicles is responsible for 2% of heart attacks in Europe. (J.K./transl.rt)