02/07/2020 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission announced on Thursday 2 July that it had taken Slovakia and Portugal to the EU Court of Justice for failing to comply with key provisions of Directive 2002/49/EC on the assessment and management of environmental noise, in particular with regard to the establishment of ‘noise maps’ and the preparation of action plans. The deadline for noise mapping was 2012, and 2013 for action plans, the institution recalls, pointing out that noise is said to cause 12,000 premature deaths every year as well as many heart problems and insomnia. Another 10 Member States are the subject of infringements at different stages, the Commission says, namely Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Greece, France, Hungary, Italy and Poland. (PH)