WRITTEN QUESTION E-0709/00

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(17 March 2000)

Subject: Sellafield and Cap de La Hague reprocessing plants

As a signatory to the OSPAR Convention, the Commission is pursuing the objective of reducing radioactivity levels in the entire biotope of European sees and the North-East Atlantic to the natural level by the year 2020. In a question tabled in January attention was repeatedly drawn to the continuing contamination of European seas by the Sellafield and Cap de La Hague nuclear reprocessing plants.

1. The OSPAR Convention states that the measured values for artificial man-made radionuclides should be as close to zero as possible by the year 2020 in the entire biotope of European seas and the North-East Atlantic. In view of trends in values recorded over recent years, does the Commission believe that the continued operation of the reprocessing plants can be reconciled with this objective? If so, what scientific basis (pleas quote studies) or other evidence is there for this belief?

2. What thought has the Commission given to the question of whether the continuing low-dose radiation of many successive generations of inhabitants of the contaminated coastal areas will give rise to genetic damage? If it sees no such risk, what is the scientific basis (please quote studies) for this assessment?

3. Does the Commission intend, in cooperation with the OSPAR commission, to subject the reprocessing facilities to more rigorous inspections from now on? What future action and measures, including budgetary aspects, are planned by the Commission to achieve the objectives set out by the OSPAR signatories?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(18 May 2000)

1. In signing the Oslo-Paris (OSPAR) Sintra statement of 23 July 1998 the signatory ministers and the Commission emphasised their commitment to a number of aims of OSPAR set out in that political statement. Specifically, in respect of radioactive substances, the contracting parties, meeting within the framework of the OSPAR commission, committed themselves to ensuring that discharges, emissions and losses of radioactive substances are reduced by the year 2020 to levels where the additional concentrations in the marine environment, above historic levels, resulting from such discharges, emissions and losses, are close to zero. At that time the contracting parties adopted an objective and strategy for the purposes of directing the future work of the OSPAR commission with regard to radioactive substances. The responsibility for assessing the effectiveness of measures in that strategy, and progress made, rests with the OSPAR commission by quinquennial review and, if necessary, modification of the strategy.

2. The Commission is committed to assisting the OSPAR commission in its work. The OSPAR strategy with regard to radioactive substances includes a commitment that the OSPAR commission identify radioactive substances and human activities which give rise to concern about the impact of discharges, emissions or losses of radioactive substances and that this identification should take account of results of scientific investigations relevant to radioactive substances in the marine environment. Assessments made, and the programmes and measures adopted, to achieve the OSPAR commission's objective, involve among other things the application of the precautionary principle. The work of the OSPAR commission would therefore be expected to address adequately the scientific issues the Honourable Member raises.

3. The Commission is committed to participating in the work of OSPAR at a number of levels in respect of radioactive substances and is undertaking a study for the update of the Marína project on the radiological exposure of the Community from radioactivity in North European marine waters. This work is mentioned in the OSPAR strategy with regard to radioactive substances and the Commission has taken account of the views of OSPAR, regarding the scope and nature of the study, in order to assist the OSPAR commission's work. As part of its strategy with respect to radioactive substances OSPAR is looking in detail at reprocessing.

The OSPAR commission's strategy with regard to radioactive substances requires OSPAR to take account of the outcome of a study by the nuclear energy agency of the Organisation for economic cooperation and development (OECD) concerning a thorough review and assessment of the reprocessing and non-reprocessing options for spent fuel management. The OECD has involved the Commission in the preparation of this report for OSPAR. The Commission will continue to carry out a programme of verifications in Member States under Article 35 Euratom Treaty. The Commission does not have any plans to carry out inspections of reprocessing facilities in co-operation with the OSPAR commission, since, while the Commission has a right of access under Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty, this would be outside the OSPAR commission's mandate.