B4-0504, 0509, 0515, 0524, 0536 and 0542/98

Resolution on the planned start-up of the Mochovce nuclear power plant

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolutions of 16 February 1995 on the Mochovce project ((OJ C 56, 6.3.1995, p. 116.)) and 16 March 1995 on the Mochovce nuclear power plant ((OJ C 89, 10.4.1995, p. 163.)),

- having regard to its resolution of 20 September 1996 on East-West cooperation activities in energy and nuclear security ((OJ C 320, 28.10.1996, p. 245.)),

- having regard to the Commission communication of March 1998 entitled 'Improving nuclear safety in Central and Eastern Europe and the NIS',

A. whereas the development of the energy sector in the European Union and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union is of strategic importance,

B. whereas each state has the right to decide for itself on its primary energy,

C. whereas in many of these countries nuclear energy plays an important role in domestic fuel supplies; referring in particular, however, to its repeated calls for the highest priority to be given in the production of nuclear power to safety and to the protection of the population from nuclear risks,

D. aware of the concern among many people in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and in their neighbouring countries about inadequate safety arrangements in many of the nuclear power stations currently in operation, as well as in many which are still being built,

E. having regard to the efforts of the European Union to help the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union as far as it can to improve safety standards in existing nuclear power plants,

F. whereas the European Parliament came to the conclusion in 1995, after an expert hearing, that serious doubts still remained about the future safety of the Mochovce nuclear power plant, particularly in view of the absence of containment,

G. whereas the upgrading of a VVER 440-213 reactor at a late stage has never yet been carried out, and whereas the completion of a plant of this kind in Greifswald (Germany) was abandoned on the grounds of excessive cost,

H. concerned at the Slovak Government's plans to start up the Mochovce nuclear power plant in a few weeks even though there are still considerable doubts about its safety,

I. whereas Slovakia participates in a number of PHARE nuclear safety programmes which concern, inter alia, the safety aspects of the Mochovce power station, and whereas in this context the Commission, at the request of the Slovak licensing authorities, instructed the national board of experts to support the Slovak authorities,

J. whereas an OECD study reveals great scope in the Slovak energy economy for improving energy efficiency, and whereas such energy efficiency measures would be the cheapest way of solving the country's energy problems,

K. whereas, as an institution representing the citizens of the EU, the European Parliament is within its rights in expressing its opinion,

1. Welcomes the agreement between the Austrian and Slovak governments which provides for the safety aspects of the plant to be inspected and the results to be evaluated by an independent international panel of experts;

2. Expects the results of this evaluation to be published;

3. Calls on the Slovak Republic to postpone the date for the start-up of the Mochovce power station until the remaining doubts about its safety have been convincingly dispelled by the expert panel;

4. Recalls that the European Parliament has always urged that measures to expand new plants or complete those under construction should always be accompanied by the closure of the least safe nuclear power plants; expects, therefore, that if Mochovce is started up, the Bohunice nuclear power plant will immediately be shut down;

5. Is concerned that the Slovak authorities have failed to provide any clear answers on the problem of nuclear waste storage;

6. Points out that compliance with the safety standards for nuclear power plants of the EU Member States is part of the acquis communautaire;

7. Reaffirms its conviction that in the run-up to EU enlargement there must in no circumstances be any relaxation of nuclear safety standards;

8. Points out, without wishing to interfere in the energy-policy options implemented by the Slovak authorities, that energy savings and improvements in energy efficiency constitute the first mechanisms of sustainable energy policy supported by European Union energy programmes;

9. Calls on the Commission to grant the Slovak Republic the necessary aid to enable it to develop an energy plan based on diverse forms of energy production and providing the best possible level of safety for the population;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Government of Slovakia.