In so far as specific directives lay down other requirements for the measurement of sound pressure levels or sound power levels, those directives must be applied and the corresponding provisions of this section shall not apply.

Following on from amendment 8 ,it is necessary to insert these words in order to take account of the sound pressure or sound level measurements to be carried out on the spot with a view to calculating noise characteristics.

15. Underlines Parliament's commitment to establish an independent internal audit service in accordance with Council Regulation (EC, ECSC, Euratom) No 762/2001 amending Article 24 of the Financial Regulation ; notes the Bureau decision of 28 November 2001 to set up such a service; stresses that the service must be independent with the possibility of communicating directly to the President of Parliament when issues of gravity come to the attention of the internal auditor; urges the Bureau to approve the necessary changes to its Internal Financial Rules as a matter of priority; considers that the internal auditor must be a highly quali ...[+++]fied and experienced audit professional who is able to perform his duties in a fully independent manner and in accordance with the relevant international standards; believes that the recent experiences of certain banks and large conglomerates, which suffered catastrophic losses due to weak internal controls show that the weakening of control mechanisms would be detrimental to the sound management of European taxpayer's money; insists that the independence of controllers and of the control function be safeguarded from being subordinated to expenditure managers;

Underlines Parliament’s commitment to establish an independent internal audit service in accordance with Council Regulation 762/2001 amending Article 24 of the Financial Regulation; notes the Bureau decision of 28 November 2001 to set-up such a service within DG 8; urges the Bureau to approve the necessary changes to its Internal Financial Rules as a matter of priority; considers that the internal auditor must be a highly qualified and experienced audit professional who is able to perform his duties in a fully independent manner and in accordance with the relevant international standards; believes that the recent experiences of certa ...[+++]in banks and large conglomerates, which suffered catastrophic losses due to weak internal controls show that the weakening of control mechanisms would be detrimental to the sound management of European taxpayer’s money; insists that the independence of controllers and of the control function be safeguarded from being subordinated to expenditure managers;

3. Establishment of Community framework rules for measures at airport level: this comprises numerous measures such as a common noise classification scheme, the definition of a standard index and a standard method for calculating noise exposure levels, the introduction of noise-monitoring, noise-zoning and land-use rules, the study of recommended practices for deciding on land use around airports, the setting of eligibility criteria (based on the existe ...[+++]nce of land-use rules) to be met before any financial aid is granted for the construction or extension of airports and, lastly, the establishment of a Community framework for operating rules.

The Commission has already taken or is in the process of taking the following measures: - wider consultations before presenting proposals, in particular publication of Green or White Papers on the topics listed in the 1993 legislative programme; - flagging in the legislative programme of upcoming proposals which would appear to be suitable for wide-ranging preliminary consultations; - introduction of a notification procedure, consisting of the publication in the Official Journal of a brief summary of any measure planned by the Commission, with the setting of a deadline by which interested parties may submit their comments; - publicati ...[+++]on of work programmes and legislative programmes in the Official Journal to publicize action planned by the Commission; - finalization of the work programme by October with a view to enhancing openness; - publication in the legislative programme of plans for the consolidation of Community legislation; - provision of easier public access to documents held by the Commission with effect from 1 January 1994; - improving knowledge of existing databases and their accessibility, including improving the existing relay network; - publication each week in the Official Journal of lists of documents on general topics; wider public access to documents on specific topics; - preparation of an interinstitutional yearbook giving details of each institution's organization chart; - faster publication of Commission documents in all Community languages; - adoption of a new information and communication policy occupying a larger place in Commission activities; enhanced co-ordination of information activities both inside and outside the Commission; - adoption of additional measures to facilitate the general public's understanding of Commission business, in particular by making available the necessary resources and equipment to provide a suitable response to requests from the media; - improvement in the treatment of telephone, mail and personal ...