The European Commission has urged Portugal and Spain to adopt strategic noise maps and action plans on environmental noise as required by the EU directive on the assessment and management of environmental noise (2002/49/EC). Each of these countries has been sent a reasoned opinion, the Commission announced on Thursday 10 July.
The noise directive requires member states, every five years, to establish and publish noise maps showing noise exposure within bigger urban areas, such as main railways, main roads and major airports, to serve as a basis for defining measures to reduce noise pollution. Environmental noise is the second largest cause of premature deaths.
Despite receiving a letter of formal notice in September 2016, Spain has yet to deliver strategic noise maps and action plans for many of its agglomerations, major roads and major railways. Moreover, it has not reviewed and or revised the existing action plans for major airports.
Portugal, after a first warning in May 2017, has yet to deliver progress: strategic noise maps have not been adopted for 2 major agglomerations and 123 major roads, nor have action plans been drawn up for 3 agglomerations, 60 major railway sections and 466 major road sections. The two countries have two months to respond or face possible referral to the European Court of Justice. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)