WRITTEN QUESTION E-1132/97 by Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) and Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (24 March 1997)

Subject: Projected construction of a subcritical nuclear power station in Aragon, Spain

A debate has been triggered off by the prospect that an experimental electrical power project, known as an 'energy amplifier' - which would be an alternative to conventional systems - may be built in the region of Aragon.

The view of experts who have assessed the project is that it has not been proven safe. There is no guarantee of the medium-term viability of the reactor and many aspects of it are uncertain or have not been tested, with all the risks for safety and funding that this entails. The 'amplifier' has already been rejected by various countries and is not supported by the world's nuclear energy industry.

Moreover, these days the emphasis is shifting towards energy savings, efficiency and renewable energy.

1. Is the Commission aware of this project?

2. If it goes ahead, what steps will the Commission take to ensure that the competent authorities have a rigorous study of the project carried out, with the specialist advice which would be indicated by the environmental and public health implications, as referred to in Directive 85/337/EEC ((OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40. )) on the assessment of the effect of certain public and private projects on the environment, as well as the economic purpose of the project?

3. Has the Commission received any application for financial support for the project from the national or regional authorities?

4. Is the Commission aware of the support which this project is said to have received from the Scientific and Technical Committee of Euratom? Does the Commission not think that, if such support has been given, details of it should be made available to interested persons and organizations, pursuant to Council Directive 90/313/EEC ((OJ L 158, 23.6.1990, p. 56. )) on the freedom of access to information on the environment?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (11 June 1997)

1. The Commission is keeping a watchful eye on the research being carried out into 'energy amplifier' technology - a concept developed by Professor Carlo Rubbia, the 1984 winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics. The Commission asked the Scientific and Technical Committee (STC, Euratom) to give its opinion on the proposals regarding the nuclear energy amplifier: the STC delivered this opinion on 24 September 1996 and decided to publish it on 27 January 1997. It has been sent to the printer's.

Under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, the Member States must 'provide the Commission with such general data relating to any plan for the disposal of radioactive waste in whatever form as will make it possible to determine whether the implementation of such plan is liable to result in the radioactive contamination of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State'.

If a plan were to take shape, the Spanish authorities would be obliged to comply with the abovementioned requirement.

2. Under Directive 85/337/EEC, nuclear power stations and other nuclear reactors are covered by Annex I to the Euratom Treaty and, consequently, must be subjected to an environmental impact assessment in accordance with Articles 5 to 10 of the Directive.

3. Since the Commission has not been informed of this project, it has no knowledge of any application for financial assistance.

4. Under Directive 90/313/EEC on the freedom of access to information on the environment, the public authorities are not obliged to provide the general public with information on a particular project. Under Article 3 of Directive 90/313/EEC, the public authorities are required to make available information relating to the environment to any natural or legal person at his request and without his having to prove an interest.