WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3015/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Illustrative nuclear programme for the European Union
Date: 1997-10-01
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: EAEC Treaty, electrical energy, energy policy, energy production, liberalisation of the market, natural gas, nuclear energy, nuclear industry

30. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134/59

(98/C 134/72)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3015/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(1 October 1997)

Subject: Illustrative nuclear programme for the European Union

With  reference  to  the  Commission  Communication  on  the  nuclear  industries  in  the  European  Union  (an
illustrative  nuclear  programme  according  to  Article  40  of  the  Euratom  Treaty)  (COM(96)  0339  final)  (CES
470/97), nuclear energy, which today provides a third of the EU(cid:146)s electricity supplies, has a number of major
environmental  advantages  over  fossil  fuels  for  the  production  of  electricity,  for  example  the  lack  of
CO2  emissions. However, extensive systems are needed to ensure the safety of nuclear operations.

Widespread public fears, the deregulation and exposure to competition of markets which had enjoyed protection
in most Member States (resulting in long-term, high-level capital investment) and the availability of natural gas
at competitive prices for use in smaller, more efficient and less costly power stations, are decisive factors making
it highly unlikely, on the basis of current information, that nuclear energy will continue to be produced after
2005-2010, when the existing nuclear power plants in most Member States will cease to operate. This prospect
raises serious strategic questions for the EU(cid:146)s energy policy.

The failure to illustrate the importance of these strategic questions in the document and to make an adequate
assessment of the probable impact on the EU(cid:146)s energy policy are serious omissions.

Will  the  Commission  specifically  address  these  questions  in  the  final  version  of  its  illustrative  nuclear
programme, produce clear conclusions and provide an indication of the future situation for the interested parties
and the public?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 1997)

The Commission adopted the definitive version of the illustrative nuclear programme on 25 September 1997 (1).

The Commission notes that natural gas now seems to be an attractive means of producing electricity and, as a
result, apart from two nuclear plants under construction in France, there are no further known plans to build
nuclear power plants in the Community.

In  the  current  illustrative  nuclear  programme,  the  Commission  felt  that  it  was  inappropriate  to  put  forward
long-term  investment  programmes  given  the  uncertainties  concerning  the  future  of  nuclear  power  in  some
Member States.

However, if there is renewed political agreement within the Community in favour of nuclear power, it may be
necessary to re-establish longer-term objectives.

It should be pointed out that after 2010, replacement programmes for existing nuclear stations may be established
by Member States which wish to replace power plants due to be decommissioned by new advanced reactors or
new reactor systems. However, such decisions are not foreseeable at the present time.

(1)  COM(97) 401 final.

(98/C 134/73)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3017/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(1 October 1997)

Subject: Forestry

With reference to (cid:145)The situation and problems of forestry in the European Union and potential for developing
forestry policies(cid:146) (CES 0476/97) (1);