Environmental Noise Directive (END)

In 1993 the Fifth EU Environmental Action Programme (1993-2000) (further in the text – Fifth Action Programme) established a number of non-binding target values which should be reached by the year 2000.       The problem with this approach was, however, that the Fifth Action Programme implied that it would essentially be up to Member States to reach these targets; it did not suggest any action to reach them. However, Member States considered that the Fifth Action Programme should provide for measures which were to be adopted at EU level, but not at national level. Thus, the targets of the Fifth Action Programme were largely ignored.

In 1996, European Commission published a Green Paper on "Future Noise Policy" where it discussed, for the first time, all impacts of noise on humans and the environment. The European Commission mentioned that the World Health Organisation (further in the text – WHO) had recommended a 55 dB(A)       guidance value. It estimated that some 80 million people in EU were continuously exposed to noise levels beyond 65 dB(A) during day-time and that some further 170 million people were exposed to noise levels between 55 dB(A) and 65 dB(A); this is a level at which, according to the WHO, people become seriously annoyed during day-time.