WRITTEN QUESTION P-1397/03

by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(11 April 2003)

Subject: Effects from depleted uranium

Have the UK armed forces used depleted uranium munitions during the invasion of Iraq?

Given that DU weapons cause widespread and long-lasting contamination liable to cause injury, chronic illness, slow death or severe birth defects to both civilians and UK soldiers for years to come, does the Council consider that the use of DU munitions would be in breach of the Additional Protocol I to the Convention on Prohibition or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (the Protocol 1 is on non-detectable fragments) and its relevant articles on deployment, use and effect upon civilians?

Article 11 of the European Parliament's Resolution adopted on 13 February 2003 on depleted uranium requested the Council to support independent and thorough investigations into the possible harmful effects of the use of depleted uranium ammunition (and other types of uranium warheads) in military operations such as in the Balkans, Afghanistan and other regions. Such investigations should concern the effects on the soldiers in affected areas as well as the effects on civilians and their land, with the results of these investigations to be presented to Parliament. What steps does the Council plan to take to initiate such an independent and thorough investigation following the cessation of hostilities in Iraq?

Will the Council press for an immediate moratorium on the use of DU munitions by Member States?

Reply

(7 October 2003)

No reports on the use of depleted uranium ammunition by the UK armed forces during the conflict in Iraq have been submitted to the Council. The Council has not addressed the issue raised by the Honourable Member concerning Protocol I to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.

The Council does not have at its disposal a list of ammunitions currently in use which contain depleted uranium. The decisions on the use of various types of ammunitions are taken by the Member States on the basis of their national sovereignty. All Member States are parties to the Geneva Conventions.

On 9 April 2001 the Council had an exchange of views on the issue of depleted uranium (DU) munitions in the light of scientific evidence compiled by various international organisations. At the end of this exchange of views, the President summarised the discussion thus:

The Council notes the work by various international organisations (UNEP, WHO, NATO, Ad hoc Group of experts set up by the Commission) on the possible health and environmental impact of exposure to depleted uranium in ammunition used in the Balkans.

In these detailed and objective examinations, there exists no scientific evidence to link the use of depleted uranium with various illnesses suffered in the population or among those who served in conflict areas.

However, due to the apparent health and environmental problems in the region the Council should remain committed to following possible further investigations closely and re-examining the issue if appropriate at a future stage.

The Commission is already addressing some of the environmental problems in the regions through ongoing projects. The Council encourages the Commission to take into account findings from the reports on depleted uranium, as well as the overall situation concerning environment and health issues, as the Commission draws up new country strategy papers for all the countries in the Western Balkans.

Since the deliberations of 9 April 2001, the Council has not addressed the issue of depleted uranium. The Council invites the Honourable Parliamentarian to address his question to the Commission for information on aspects it has dealt with since that date.