WRITTEN QUESTION E-1256/00

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(14 April 2000)

Subject: Radioactive bombs in Kosovo

During last eleven weeks of the war in Kosovo, NATO aircraft dropped depleted uranium bombs in quantities amounting to hundreds of kilos of radioactive material.

The bombs, devised as anti-tank weapons, are fairly cheap since depleted uranium is a by-product of other processes. They release a very fine uranium oxide powder (the diameter of each particle is 400 times smaller that that of a grain of sand), which is dispersed over tens of kilometres by the wind or carried in surface water. The radioactivity produced in this way is extremely dangerous if inhaled or ingested as it causes internal contamination. The uranium particles are easily soluble in body fluids and lodge in the victim's organs, such as kidneys, liver and bones.

People in the contaminated area thus suffer serious damage to their organism, as a result of radiation or direct contamination.

From the experience of the Gulf War, when similar bombs were used and hundreds of US soldiers are still suffering the effects, it has emerged that the most immediate effects on human beings include cancer, leukaemia, miscarriages and congenital malformations and diseases of the liver and nervous system. Then there are the long-term effects on the environment.

Does the Commission:

1. Not consider that it is necessary to adopt measures to ascertain the extent of the radioactive pollution in Kosovo?

2. Not think it should encourage decontamination measures?

3. Not think it should introduce a specific screening programme for high risk groups, such as pregnant women and children?

4. Not consider it necessary to promote an international campaign to ban depleted uranium bombs?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the replies which it has already given to Oral Questions H-429/99 by Mr Alavanos and H-431/99 by Mr Papayannakis during question time at Parliament's September 1999 part-session(1) and to Written Question E-1481/99 by Mr Manisco(2).

In response to the first question raised by the Honourable Member, two studies have been carried out to ascertain, inter alia, whether there was radioactive pollution as a result of the use of depleted uranium bombs in Kosovo. The first assessment, financed by the Commission, was a preliminary assessment of the environmental impact of the Kosovo conflict, and was carried out by the Regional environment centre for Central and Eastern Europe. This report is available on their website: www.rec.org. A more detailed assessment was then carried out by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Balkans Task Force the report of which is available on their website: www.grid.unep.ch. Both of these reports concluded that the Kosovo conflict did not cause an environmental catastrophe for the region.

In light of this, it was not felt necessary to introduce measures such as suggested in the next two questions posed by the Honourable Member. Nonetheless, the Commission, through its humanitarian office (ECHO) and through its Task Force Kosovo, now replaced by the Reconstruction Agency, has taken a leading role in the broader international effort to address other identified issues, particularly in the field of water treatment. It is also supporting a regional environmental reconstruction programme, within the framework of the Stability Pact, which will assist in environmental reconstruction throughout the wider Balkans region.

The Commission has not been able to consider the wider issue of whether depleted uranium bombs should be banned because it has no competencies in the field of weapons.

(1) Debates of the European Parliament (September 1999).

(2) OJ C 203 E, 18.7.2000, p. 2.