Strasbourg, 16/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - The Greens have maintained their opposition to the new regulation on anti-noise measures near airports. Nonetheless, on Wednesday 16 April, this regulation was adopted, as negotiated by the EP rapporteur Jörg Leichtfried (S&D, Austria) with the Council. The industry is satisfied with the agreement. The new rules stipulate that the local authorities can decide on whether to restrict flights due to excessive noise, in an effort to protect those living locally and their health, particularly during the night, without the Commission being able to interfere in the process. The Commission will, however, have to be kept informed and will be able to make comment before decisions are applied. The Greens rejected the regulation because they harboured fears that “the balanced approach” set out in the basic regulation promoted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation is biased towards protecting the interests of the economic operators over those of the people living near airports (see EUROPE 11058). The industry welcomed the vote by MEPs, through the voice of the Association of European Airlines (AEA) and the Airports Council Europe. They both welcomed a clearer framework to determine what these restrictions would be, on the basis of this “balanced approach” and introduction of prior noise assessment. (MD)