Commission awaits Environmental Council's endorsement of proposals
The European Commission is hoping that the Environmental Council meeting on 18 and 19 December will produce agreement on a common position concerning the new Noise Directive and on Sustainable Urban Development. The Commission's proposal on the assessment and management of environmental noise was adopted in July 2000, and aims among other things to establish common 'noise mapping' measurement tools, using field surveys, to assess noise pollution levels and their effect on human health. The proposal has been well received by the Council working group, and following an opinion from the European Parliament, a political agreement on a common position could be reached at the meeting. The Commission's proposal for a Community framework for cooperation to promote sustainable urban development will also be discussed at the meeting. The framework will run from 1 January 2001 until 31 December 2004. Budgetary issues will be discussed on 18 and 19 December. Other issues on the agenda for the final Environmental Council meeting under the French presidency include the traceability and labelling of GMOs (genetically modified organisms), environmental governance, air pollution from road transport, maritime safety, climate change and the precautionary principle.
Countries
France