B4-1091, 1092, 1096/rev. and 1098/95/rev.

Resolution on the resumption of nuclear tests by France

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the moratorium on nuclear tests and more specifically its resolution of 15 June 1995 on nuclear testing ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 14.)) condemning the nuclear tests conducted by the People's Republic of China and urging France not to resume its nuclear testing programme,

A. whereas numerous protests against the French President's decision to resume nuclear tests have been voiced throughout the world, and whereas the freedom to demonstrate must be respected wherever citizens wish to express themselves,

B. deeply concerned that France conducted a nuclear test in the range of about 20 kilotons T.N.T. equivalent which was detonated on Tuesday 5 September 1995 at 23.30 hrs (CET) at the Mururoa atoll, and deploring the fact that the French President has chosen to ignore all the protests voiced first in France itself, then in the other countries of the European Union,

C. whereas France has invited its partners in the European Union to support the French initiative for the sake of their common security,

D. whereas the French President did not consult his European partners before announcing his decision to resume nuclear tests and only later stated that the modernization of the French nuclear arsenal was very much in their own interests,

E. concerned about the possible effects on the environment and on health, particularly of the inhabitants of the territories near the nuclear test site in the Pacific region,

1. Recalls and reaffirms its strong opposition to all nuclear tests and its total support for the conclusion by the end of 1996 of a comprehensive test ban treaty (CTBT), and considers that a total ban on nuclear testing is a major aim for the international community in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation;

2. Condemns the decision of the French President to authorize the first nuclear test despite the protests against this decision and, in particular, the concern expressed by the inhabitants of the South Pacific;

3. Urges the French President to cancel the other planned nuclear tests;

4. Reaffirms that a proactive policy of cooperation and controlled disarmament is the best guarantee of peace, and again appeals to the European Union to play the role of a driving force in the implementation of such a policy by adopting a joint action to this end under Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union;

5. Takes the view that the French action risks reopening the nuclear arms race and therefore represents an obstacle to detente and peace by jeopardizing the extension of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty; in this connection, condemns all attempts to justify the development of nuclear arsenals on the grounds of security;

6. Is surprised that this decision was taken without France's partners in the European Union being previously consulted or even informed;

7. Calls for an extraordinary meeting of the European Council to be convened to consider the common security policy; notes the undertakings of the French Government concerning the conclusion of a comprehensive test ban treaty; and calls on all the Member States of the European Union to undertake definitive ratification of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty;

8. Proposes to hold a debate on the prospects for a European defence policy in line with the provisions in the Treaty on European Union;

9. Requests that the issue be added to the agenda for the 94th Interparliamentary Conference pursuant to Article 15 of the statutes of the Interparliamentary Union and Rule 11 of the Rules of Procedure of the Conference;

10. Considers that nuclear weapons tests should be regarded as 'particularly dangerous experiments' within the meaning of Article 34 of the EAEC Treaty; calls on the Commission, the guardian of the Treaties, to define clearly which experiments, pursuant to the provisions of this article, should be classified as 'particularly dangerous experiments';

11. Deplores the fact that the French authorities did not, before the first test, forward all the necessary documents to the Commission to enable it to examine the matter or to independent international experts to enable them to list all the health consequences of the tests;

12. Deplores the fact that, as a result, neither the potential effects of the tests on the environment nor the adoption of complementary measures or actions relating to health and safety, with due regard for the maximum permissible radiation doses referred to in the EAEC Treaty, have been submitted to an in-depth and thorough examination;

13. Calls on the Commission to implement fully and immediately Articles 34 and 35 of the EAEC Treaty and to examine the information on the French nuclear tests in this context together with independent and critical experts;

14. Calls on the Commission, on the basis of Article 141 of the EAEC Treaty, to draw up a reasoned opinion as soon as possible on the non-respect of the EAEC Treaty by the French Government and to take action at the Court of Justice should the French Government not comply with that opinion;

15. Instructs its President to convey this resolution personally to the President of the French Republic and to forward it to the Council, the Commission, the French National Assembly and the French Senate, the Interparliamentary Conference, the Governments of China, the US and Russia, the President of the Geneva Conference on Disarmament and the signatory states to the Treaty of Rarotonga.