WRITTEN QUESTION E-1876/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(16 June 1998)

Subject: Nightmarish threats posed by India's and Pakistan's nuclear tests

The successive nuclear tests carried out by India and Pakistan constitute nightmarish threats to the stability of the wider region and to world peace itself. On 28 May 1998, Pakistan carried out five underground nuclear tests in the Chagai region on the border with Iran and Afghanistan, in response to the five underground tests carried out by India at the beginning of the month.

This situation confirms the fears expressed in many quarters about the possession of nuclear technology by these two countries which have not hesitated to use it, causing incalculable damage to the earth's highly polluted environment.

It is worth noting that both countries' nuclear reactors are the Candu type which are of Canadian origin (this is the only type capable of producing almost pure plutonium - a substance suitable for making nuclear bombs - while burning natural uranium), identical to the one which Turkey is planning to install opposite the Greek island of Rhodes. Furthermore, according to claims made recently in the Canadian Parliament, these reactors have problems with leaks and general quality of construction, which make it imperative to cancel the installation of the Turkish nuclear reactor at Akkuyu so close to Community territory.

What is the Commission's official position on this entire issue? What measures will it take against Pakistan and India (which receive economic aid from the EU) whose actions seem to be leading to a dangerous escalation in the wider region and can be expected to have a direct impact on the interests of the EU itself owing to the special links between Pakistan and Turkey and the latter's intention of joining the Union while, nevertheless, inciting it by setting up a nuclear plant only a few miles from its territory.

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(16 July 1998)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that the nuclear tests undertaken by Pakistan and India pose a grave threat to international peace and security, and seriously damage global efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to bring about nuclear disarmament.

In its declarations of 25 May and 8 June 1998 on this subject, the Union has underlined its full commitment to the "Treaty of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons as a cornerstone of the global non-proliferation regime and an essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. Its goal continues to be adherence by all countries, including India and Pakistan, to the NPT as it stands without any modification" (Declaration of 8 June 1998).

These declarations also contain a number of measures to encourage compliance, and also state that the "European Union will follow the situation in South Asia and take all necessary measures should India and Pakistan not take early steps to accede to the relevant international non-proliferation treaties and to resume their bilateral political dialogue".

In the case of Turkey, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to his Written Question P-662/98(1) and the reply it gave to Oral question H-11/98 by Mr Kokkola during question time at Parliament's February 1998 part session(2).

In addition to the information provided in these replies the Commission would like to draw the attention of the Honourable Member that, since 17 April 1980, Turkey has been a Party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and that, since September 1981, the implementing Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been in force. The IAEA never found any reason to conclude that Turkey used its nuclear material and other relevant items for anything other than peaceful purposes.

(1) OJ C 304, 20.10.1998.

(2) Debates of the Parliament (February 1998).