WRITTEN QUESTION P-0694/00

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 March 2000)

Subject: Nuclear Safety, the Convention on Nuclear Safety and Sellafield

The Convention on Nuclear Safety came into force in October 1996. Could the Commission confirm which Member States have signed up, and if the United Kingdom is amongst the signatories?

The Nuclear Safety Review (i.e. a peer review process) provided for in the Convention was due in April 1999. Could the Commission provide an update on the outcome of the review, and comment on any subsequent related developments?

Considering the strict approach taken by the Commission over the safety of nuclear plants in applicant countries, would the Commission outline its position on the Sellafield nuclear plant in the UK, bearing in mind recent official criticism(1) of the plant, and outline what subsequent action the Commission feels should be taken at all levels of authority?

(1) Contained in a report by the British Nuclear Installations Inspectorate published on Friday, February 18, 2000.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 2000)

All Member States and the European atomic energy Community are parties to the 1994 Convention on nuclear safety(1). The first review meeting under the Convention took place on 12-23 April 1999 in Vienna. The European atomic energy Community was not yet contracting party at that date and therefore it did not take part in the meeting. The United Kingdom submitted its national report and took part in the meeting. The International atomic energy agency (IAEA) that provides the secretariat for the meetings of the contracting parties to the Convention made available on internet the summary report of the meeting (http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/glance/legal/revmtg0199.html).

The Convention applies to the safety of land based civil nuclear power plants and therefore the Sellafield plant referred to is not within the scope of the Convention. It is, however, to be noted that one of the main requirements under the Convention is set out in its Article 8, regulatory body, as follows: 1. Each Contracting Party shall establish or designate a regulatory body entrusted with the implementation of the legislative and regulatory framework (mldr), and provided with adequate authority, competence and financial and human resources to fulfil its assigned responsibilities. 2. Each Contracting Party shall take the appropriate steps to ensure an effective separation between the functions of the regulatory body and those of any other body or organisation concerned with the promotion of utilisation of nuclear energy. In general, and indeed in the United Kingdom, the competence of the regulatory body is not limited to nuclear installations as defined by the Convention.

The strict approach vis-à-vis the applicant countries was taken on the basis of a clear political acquis given by the Member States. No equivalent acquis exists for nuclear facilities inside the Community. However, the Commission has already discussed the British Nuclear installation inspectorate report with the company concerned and has agreed to meet senior officials of the company to review steps taken to improve the safety of the installations in the coming weeks.

The main Community requirements concerning protection against the effects of ionising radiation are laid down in Council Directive 96/29/Euratom laying down basic safety standards for the protection of the health of the workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation(2). The Commission will continue to cooperate with the United Kingdom authorities with a view to the full application of the Community provisions. There is no evidence so far that the recent criticism on the Sellafield plant has any implications from a radiation protection point of view.

(1) Commission Decision of 16 November 1999 (1999/819/Euratom) concerning the accession of the 1994 Convention on nuclear safety by the European atomic energy Community (Euratom), OJ L 318, 11.12.1999.

(2) OJ L 159, 29.6.1996. Directive 96/29/Euratom repeals previous directives with effect from 13 May 2000.