The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the recommendation for second reading in the report by Jörg LEICHTFRIED (S&D, AT) on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at Union airports within a Balanced Approach and repealing Directive 2002/30/EC.
Following the adoption of Parliament's first reading position on 12 December 2012, informal negotiations with view to reaching an early second reading agreement took place on 14 January 2014 and 27 January 2014. The outcome text of negotiations was approved by the Committee on Transport and Tourism on 11 February 2014.
To recall, the Regulation further harmonises, clarifies and strengthens the common rules on how decisions on noise related operating restrictions at EU airports, such as bans on night flights.
At the initiative of the EP, the local authorities would retain their powers to decide on noise related measures at airports, such as bans on night flights. Moreover, the Commission has been obliged to address health-related aspects of aviation noise by revising the Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC.
Given that Parliament's objectives have been, to a large extent, met in the negotiations with the Council and the Commission, the committee recommended endorsing without amendment the Council's position at the first reading and the statement by the Commission on the revision of Directive 2002/49/EC.