WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2467/97 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Planned involvement of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL) in China
Date: 1997-07-16
Institutions: European Parliament, MCKENNA
Subjects: China, United Kingdom, feasibility study, nuclear industry, nuclear safety, radiation protection, transport of dangerous goods, uranium

11. 3. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 76/113

(98/C 76/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2461/97

by Frank Vanhecke (NI) to the Commission

(16 July 1997)

Subject: Community subsidies

Under budget item B96 B3-4110 (transaction SOC96102780) the local authority of Genk in Belgium received a
subsidy of ECU 97 447 in 1996. The aim of the subsidy was: (cid:145)Elaine › Promoting self-employment and job
creation by ethnic minorities.(cid:146)

Can the Commission say whether the application for this subsidy was made by the Genk municipal council?

Can the Commission provide a copy of the application?

Was the application for the subsidy submitted in English or Dutch?

How many jobs were actually created for migrants by the (cid:145)local authority of Genk(cid:146) with the subsidy requested
specifically for this purpose?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2450/97 and E-2461/97
given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(18 September 1997)

The applications for part-financing for the projects on (cid:145)Promoting self-employment and job creation by ethic
minorities(cid:146)  were  submitted  in  Dutch  by  the  two  cities  of  Antwerp  and  Ghent  and  signed  by  their  respective
mayors. The Commission is unable to provide copies, and the Honourable Member should contact the authorities
from whom the applications originate.

The objective of the projects is not to create jobs for migrants as such, but to develop and implement training
strategies  aimed  at  entrepreneurs  of  immigrant  origin,  to  promote  cooperation  between  such  persons  and
business organisations, and to improve their knowledge of the regulations in force. The impact in terms of job
creation will therefore be indirect, and it will not be possible to measure it until after the end of the projects.

(98/C 76/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2467/97

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(16 July 1997)

Subject: Planned involvement of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL) in China

British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL) recently signed a (cid:145)letter of intent(cid:146) with the China National Nuclear Corporation
(CNNC).  The  letter  commits  both  parties  to  undertaking  a  feasibility  study  on  using  BNFL-developed
technology to convert enriched uranium into a uranium oxide powder for sale to the Chinese domestic and export
markets.

If the project develops, the result could be a greater amount of transport of nuclear materials around the globe,
with potentially grave consequences for public safety and the environment.

What measures would the Commission be prepared to take about this development?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 1997)

The potential consequences of a possible agreement between British nuclear fuels Ltd and the China national
nuclear corporation cannot be evaluated at present.