The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Hans BLOKLAND (EDD, NL) on the Commission's proposal on noise charges. (Please refer to the document dated 10/07/02.) Parliament stated that environmental charges that are levied with the specific purpose of financing environmental mitigation measures in the area surrounding airports, such as sound insulation, are compatible with ICAO charging principles and should be allowed under the Directive. Another amendment stated that existing, alternative systems of noise charges at airports may be retained, provided that they go further and are more advanced, than the system provided for in the Directive.�