Netherlands passes on conflict with NATO to EU
The Netherlands is passing on a conflict with NATO to the EU. The Hague is asking the European Commission to apply the same strict noise norms to AWACS aircraft as for civil aircraft.
In December the Lower House, under evident pressure from the environmental lobby, adopted a motion in which closure of Dutch airspace to AWACS planes was threatened. This would happen if NATO did not decide by March to order quieter engines for these planes, which cause noise nuisance in parts of Limburg, near the German base from which they take off.
This ultimatum has almost expired, but NATO is deaf to the Dutch request. In a letter to the European Commission, the Netherlands is now requesting that the European environmental standards for air traffic should no longer make an exception for military air traffic.
Source: NIS News, 29 February 2008
