Brussels, 20/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 20 September, in Brussels, MEP Caroline Lucas launched a campaign for banning night flights throughout the European Union. The British Green member presented a study by John Stewart, Chairman of the HACAN ClearSkies pressure group, who demonstrates the feebleness of the economic arguments in favour of night flights. “Over three and a half million people across Europe are exposed to night flights. This campaign brings together protest groups from virtually every country in Europe. (…) Our aim is to persuade European governments to put people's health before the self-serving interests of the aviation industry”, Mr Stewart states in a press release. His study calls on EU Member States to implement within five years the World Health Organisation's (WHO) recommended noise levels for night flights. “This campaign is built on solid foundations. It is now clear that the economic importance of night flights has been greatly over-stated. It is also clear that there are no overwhelming operational reasons why planes need to fly at night”, Caroline Lucas says, hoping to persuade the European Commission to require Member States when it publishes its revised Noise Directive in 2007 to put into practice the WHO guidelines on night flights.