Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000300/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Dan-Ştefan Motreanu (PPE)
A recent report from the European Court of Auditors (ECA) highlights a critical challenge in urban pollution management. While low-emission zones (LEZs) in cities such as Athens, Barcelona or Kraków have successfully reduced air pollution and noise within the designated LEZs, they have inadvertently caused an increase in noise and pollution levels in surrounding streets.
In Barcelona, for example, traffic restrictions led to a 33 % increase in commercial activities, such as bars and restaurants, in pedestrian zones, which have become significant sources of noise pollution, particularly at night. This unintended consequence underlines the complexity of urban environmental management.
The report also notes that noise pollution, primarily from motor traffic, is a significant yet often overlooked issue in urban areas. Prolonged exposure to environmental noise is associated with serious health risks, including cardiovascular diseases and chronic stress. Despite the EU’s Green Deal targeting a reduction in the number of citizens chronically exposed to noise by 2030, the ECA found significant gaps in monitoring data among Member States, making it difficult to measure progress effectively.
What measures does the Commission intend to propose to ensure better monitoring of noise pollution and to address the displacement effects of LEZs on surrounding urban areas?
Submitted: 23.1.2025