A4-0088/99

Resolution on the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on nuclear sector related activities for the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the New Independent States (COM(98)0134 - C4-0314/98)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission communication (COM(98)0134 - C4-0314/98),

- having regard to its resolutions and opinions:

. of 20 September 1996 on East-West Cooperation Activities in Energy and Nuclear Security ((OJ C 320, 28.10.1996, p. 245.)),

. of 18 February 1997 on the conclusion of the Energy Charter Treaty and the Energy Charter Protocol on energy efficiency and related environmental aspects ((OJ C 85, 17.3.1997, p. 34.)),

. of 3 April 1998 on the Chernobyl Shelter Fund ((OJ C 138, 4.5.1998, p. 219.)),

. of 14 May 1998 on the planned start up of the Mochovce nuclear power plant ((OJ C 167, 1.6.1998, p. 217.)),

. of 18 June 1998 on the Commission communication 'Energy for the future: renewable sources of energy - White Paper for a Community Strategy and Action Plan' ((OJ C 210, 6.7.1998, p. 215.)),

. of 8 October 1998 on the 'Multiannual Framework Programme for actions in the energy sector (1998-2002) ((OJ C 328, 26.10.1998, p. 168.)),

- having regard to the Court of Auditors Special Report No 25/98 concerning operations undertaken by the European Union in the field of nuclear safety in Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs) and in the New Independent States (NIS)(1990-1997 period),

- having regard to the STOA report entitled 'Nuclear Safeguards and Nuclear Safety in the East' (PE 166.083) of November 1986,

- having regard to the agreements which some CEEC and NIS signed with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the context of the Nuclear Safety Account (NSA), in which the Community takes part as a donor,

- having regard to its decision of 11 December 1996 on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and Council Directive concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity ((OJ C 20, 20.1.1997, p. 55.)),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy and the opinions of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy, the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on External Economic Relations,

(A4-0088/99),

A. whereas sovereign states have the right to determine their energy options, including the nuclear option,

B. whereas nuclear power will continue to be used for electricity generation in some of the countries of the CEEC and NIS, among whom are accession candidates,

C. whereas the nuclear safety assistance under the PHARE and TACIS programmes followed the policy guidelines laid down by the 1992 G7 summit,

D. whereas in the medium term these guidelines were intended to improve operational safety, technical safety and regulatory regimes and, in the long term, to examine the potential for the replacement of less safe plants by the development of alternative energy sources, the more efficient use of energy and upgrading plants of more recent design,

E. whereas there is still great potential for energy efficiency in the CEEC,

F. whereas there is a wish on the part of the Russian Government for closer collaboration on nuclear issues,

G. whereas with regard to the pre-accession strategy for this sector, priority is given to the nuclear safety aspects and to developing realistic solutions for the energy problems of these countries, and this will be conditional upon a real success in the on-going negotiations on the revision of the Financial Perspectives and on the agreement reached on the amount to be allocated during the next programming period to the countries concerned,

1. Is convinced that progress and understanding amongst all the parties involved can only be achieved on the basis of equality and cooperation;

2. Calls on Bulgaria and Lithuania to comply with their commitments under the agreements with the NSA, the management of which has been undertaken by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in regard to the conditional closure of nuclear reactors 1 to 4 at Kozloduy (VVER 440/230) and 1-2 (RBMK) at Ignalina respectively;

3. Calls on the European Commission to agree an energy strategy for each of the CEEC and NIS countries under the partnership and cooperation agreements in which provision is made for the closure of 'first generation nuclear reactors¨. Each plan should specify clearly how alternative capacity is to be provided. NGOs and local representatives should also be involved in drawing up these plans;

4. Calls on the Commission to seek an accord on nuclear safety standards and regulation for the construction and operation of nuclear power stations, the fuel cycle and transport conditions with the CEEC and NIS, within the framework of the International Convention on Nuclear Safety and with EURATOM, if and when EURATOM guidelines are established;

5. Proposes that the accession negotiations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe should ensure that compliance with these safety standards is guaranteed;

6. Welcomes the formation of the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association and its contribution both to a definition of nuclear safety standards which could apply to the European Union, and to the creation of independent authorities to ensure compliance with the rules on reactor safety and transport safety in the candidate countries;

7. Urges the Commission to develop indicators to measure progress in safety standards in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy;

8. Supports the accession of the European Community to the Nuclear Safety Convention;

9. Insists that safety assistance for 'first generation RBMK and VVER 440/230 reactors¨ must be limited to only short-term safety improvements which are shown to be necessary to keep them in operation;

10. Urges the speedy completion of agreed upgrading plans for the operational reactors, excluding first generation RBMK and VVER 440/230 reactors which cannot be upgraded to internationally acceptable safety standards at reasonable cost;

11. Believes it is necessary to continue the on-going direct assistance to the 14 plants in the CEEC and NIS (on site assistance) in order to develop an operational safety culture;

12. Underlines the importance of giving additional support to national regulatory authorities in the CEEC and NIS, provided they are legally independent and implement a real culture of independence by means of the PHARE and TACIS programmes especially with the objective of securing the independence and competence of the regulators; stresses, however, in the light of the internal market in electricity and the consequent need to eliminate obstacles to competition, that the retrofitting of nuclear power stations is the financial responsibility of the operators in accordance with the 'polluter pays' principle;

13. Underlines the importance of assisting the CEEC and the NIS in completing and implementing legislation in the field of nuclear safety, safeguards and obligations arising from their accession to international agreements;

14. Calls, therefore, on the Commission and the EBRD not to grant any funding for first generation RBMK and VVER 440/230 reactors, except for short-term safety improvements, and not to grant Euratom loans for the modernisation of other units without first securing a clear undertaking that first generation RBMK and VVER 440/230 reactors will be decommissioned once and for all;

15. Notes the interest of the Russian authorities in constructing new reactors of western design and in collaborating with western companies in the decontamination of radioactive areas;

16. Urges the nuclear industries in the European Union to act cooperatively to move from assistance to technical cooperation with the industries of the CEEC and NIS;

17. Requests the Commission to present, as soon as possible, concrete proposals on improving coordination between the different departments (DG's and Commissioners) responsible for the EU intervention in this sector of these countries, in particular as regards the straight link between the actions to be taken in the field of research (fifth framework programme) and of external relations (Phare and Tacis programmes);

18. Acknowledging the concern amongst sections of the population in states neighbouring the CEEC with regard to safety standards, requests the Commission to conduct an annual review of the implementation of the Espoo Convention as it applies to Member States and candidate countries as well;

19. Notes that the above-mentioned Commission communication reflects the lack of transparency of the budget presentation of EU financial intervention in third countries; invites the Commission therefore to provide information on the budget cover (item by item) of each one of the actions and instruments identified as means of promoting nuclear safety in the CEEC and NIS (Annex 2 page 14-17, English version);

20. Recalls the main recommendations of the Court of Auditors special report No 25/98, in particular as regards :

- greater transparency in the presentation of the budget and accounts and examination and updating of appropriations that have not been mobilised via contracts (ECU 294 million according to the Court of Auditors);

- the difficulties experienced in applying tendering procedures, further and better definition of rules regarding the use of the derogation system and of the rules on using subcontractors (clarification of the 'BATs¨);

- the reorganisation of the management and staff resources of the Commission departments responsible for executing the programmes, without excessive reliance on intermediaries;

21. Calls on the Commission to draw up a comprehensive report responding in full to the criticisms and questions set out in the Special Report of the Court of Auditors;

22. Recognising the value of the technical cooperation and assistance given by the nuclear industry in the EU, requests the Commission to prepare a bi-annual report to Parliament on work in progress in Community programmes, assistance by Member States, the contribution of EU industry and the Nuclear Safety Account handled by the EBRD;

23. Recalls its decisions and resolutions as regards EU financial and technical assistance to this sector in the CEEC and the NIS, according to which:

- the contribution of the EU to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund will rise to a maximum amount of Eur 100 million for the period of validity of this fund ( 2005); it will be made available to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) after verification by the Budget Authority of the conditions laid down in the above-mentioned resolution of the European Parliament of 3 April 1998;

- the total appropriations to allocate to the nuclear sector within the Tacis financial framework may not exceed 13% of the total appropriations available every year for this programme ((EP resolution of 18.12.1997 - OJ C 14, 19.1.1998, p. 114.));

- the Commission shall provide the Budget Authority with itemised information on the costs of the technical and legal assistance necessary for projects for which financing in the form of EURATOM loan is requested ((EP resolution of 17.12.1998 - Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 1(a).));

24. Calls on the Commission to ensure, in the context of its aid programmes, that aid payments are not encumbered with additional taxes in the recipient states;

25. Calls on the Commission, in the context of its aid programmes, to work in particular towards improving the quality of the energy services provided in the recipient countries;

26. Calls on the Commission to ensure that where shortcomings and abuses in programmes are disclosed they are ruthlessly investigated, notified to the European Parliament and eliminated or punished as appropriate;

27. Calls on the Commission to take account, in the measures it undertakes, of the existing documents on the northern dimension and to propose concrete measures to encourage action aimed at tackling the problems of nuclear safety and nuclear waste in the region;

28. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council.