Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-04-14-Speech-5-080"
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"en.20000414.4.5-080"2
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"Mr President, it is certainly not a coincidence that so many Belgian Members have taken the floor during this debate today. The problem of night flights in a densely populated country such as Belgium is a very topical and extremely sensitive issue, especially since the Belgian Transport Minister issued a ban on night flights in Zaventem which, following a hefty row within the government, was withdrawn soon after. I believe that Mrs Van Brempt has outlined the dilemma very expertly. Tens of thousands of people live and sleep a stone’s throw away from the runway. 15% of the population are suffering as a result of the noise pollution generated by aircraft. Medical reports have shown that people living near airports are having to deal with health problems of an unacceptably serious nature, such as insomnia, high blood pressure, stress and depression. Needless to say, it makes no sense to ban night flights in one Member State alone. Businesses, such as DHL, will then simply move to airports in other Member States. As a result, we are at risk of finding ourselves in a downward spiral, where the citizens’ quality of life is pulled down with it.
Mr Sterckx has already pointed out, with good reason, that measures to reduce the effects for those living near airports should not promote distortion of competition. The increase in the number of noisy, obsolete and unlisted Russian aircraft, in particular, is the cause of unacceptable noise pollution, not to mention the risks for the environment and safety which such aircraft pose. In my town, Ostend, where the airport is situated in the centre of town, there have already been over 50 incidents, so far only leading to material damage. I therefore concur with Mrs Oomen, who advocates uniform framework legislation, which will reconcile the economic and employment interests with the care for public health, the environment and safety and which will apply to all airports within Europe. The much publicised and promised common framework for noise classification of aircraft could not be here soon enough, Commissioner, especially given the Russian situation. I also hope that the European Commission will not budge one inch from the position it has adopted with regard to hushkits and will not succumb to American pressure.
Finally, I would like to ask that special attention be paid to the specific problems which smaller, regional airports have to contend with. They are fighting to remain profitable and are even unable to make the necessary investments to reduce noise pollution. This is why I would ask Europe, where possible, to help out in order to guarantee the viability of airports, but especially the quality of life of those living near them."@en1
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