B4-0310, 0317, 0321 and 0333/96

Resolution on radioactive waste

The European Parliament,

A. having regard to the agreement recently concluded between Cogema (France) and Siemens (Germany) on the reprocessing of nuclear waste from Germany and the production of MOX fuel pins at the Cadarache plant (France),

B. having regard to the enormous quantity of plutonium (about 342 tonnes) already under Euratom safeguards by the end of 1994, which is increasing by an estimated 28 tonnes each year; whereas plutonium is still being separated in European reprocessing plants, to be used again in reactors in the form of MOX fuel; whereas MOX production capacity in the Community in 1995 amounted to about 120 tonnes in the Marcoule, Cadarache, Dessel and Sellafield plants, the Pu component being 'only' about 5%,

C. whereas the use of plutonium for civil purposes should be internationally banned to prevent competition for the separation of plutonium and hence its accumulation,

D. whereas there are as yet no methods for the safe disposal of plutonium, although they are the subject of intensive discussion (eg the possibility of vitrification),

E. whereas the use of MOX fuel elements allows only limited recycling of plutonium,

F. whereas the USA stopped reprocessing plutonium from civil nuclear installations as long ago as 1977,

G. whereas Sweden has decided not to reprocess nuclear fuel nor produce MOX, and treats plutonium as 'final waste',

H. whereas Hanau, the only plant in Germany in which the fabrication of MOX fuel elements would be possible, was closed for safety reasons and German power station operators now have MOX fuel elements made at Cogema in France,

I. whereas in Sellafield (UK), reprocessing capacity and MOX fuel element production capacity are being increased from 8 to 120 tonnes,

J. having regard to the great risks associated with the transport of nuclear materials, which include damage to the health of the population in the event of accidents as well as threats to security in the Member States due to terrorist attacks or theft of radioactive material,

K. having regard to the large and dangerous quantities of waste already arising in the reprocessing of spent fuel elements,

L. having regard to the as yet unresolved problem of disposal of the waste arising in the production, use and reprocessing of nuclear fuels,

M. having regard to the major proliferation risks resulting particularly from plutonium production and use, which have greatly intensified following the break-up of the former Soviet Union,

N. considering the increase in stocks of nuclear waste, notably in La Hague (FR) where serious pollution of the environment by Iodine 129 has been ascertained,

O. recalling its resolution of 13 June 1991 on energy and the environment ((OJ C 183, 15.7.1991, p. 303.)) which, in paragraph 27, calls for 'an end to all reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuels and production of mixed uranium-plutonium fuel',

The European Parliament,

1. Calls on the Commission to evaluate the economic viability of using MOX in a long-term European perspective;

2. Calls on the Commission to assess the economic viability and risks in terms of public safety and impact on the environment of the carriage of nuclear materials in the European Union related to the production of MOX fuels;

3. Calls on the Commission to assess the feasibility of applying the proximity rule in drawing up decisions on reprocessing and final disposal;

4. Calls on the Commission to examine to what extent the Non-Proliferation Treaty is affected, as weapons-grade plutonium is used in the manufacture of MOX fuel elements;

5. Asks the Commission if the provisions of Articles 78 and 79 of the Euratom Treaty have been respected;

6. Calls for the issue of nuclear energy production and especially the reprocessing of nuclear waste and fuel elements in Europe to be fully included in the discussions on European energy policy, and the prevailing practices of environmental dumping, particularly among the Member States, to be forcefully condemned;

7. Calls on the Commission to put forward immediately the action plan announced in the White Paper 'An Energy Policy for the European Union', which covers the whole field of radioactive waste treatment and in particular finally develops strategies for solving the problem of the final disposal of radioactive waste, including plutonium;

8. Requests the Commission to explain the reasons which have caused the local German authorities not to bring into operation the MOX production factory in Hanau;

9. Instructs its committee responsible to draw up a report on possible safety precautions against accident hazards in connection with the further spread and increasing transport of radioactive materials;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States.