WRITTEN QUESTION No. 373/98 by Nuala AHERN to the Council. Proposed action on threats posed by the Sellafield plant
Date: 1998-02-19
Institutions: AHERN, European Parliament
Subjects: EU law, United Kingdom, application of EU law, competence of the Member States, environmental protection, health risk, ionising radiation, nuclear power station, nuclear safety, public health

2. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 304/89

(98/C 304/133)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0372/98

by Nuala Ahern (V) to the Council

(19 February 1998)

Subject: Shipment of high-level radioactive waste from the COGEMA plant at La Hague

What representations has the Presidency received regarding safety concerns about the shipment of high-level
radioactive waste from the COGEMA plant at La Hague, via the port of Cherbourg to Japan through the Panama
Canal, which is scheduled to begin in January 1998?

Answer

(18 May 1998)

The Council has no knowledge of specific representations regarding safety concerns about the shipment of

1.
radioactive waste from the nuclear plant at La Hague.

The Council would like to remind the Honourable Member of Parliament that safety concerns about the

2.
shipment of radioactive waste are dealt with by various acts of Community legislation.

3.
Directive 96/29/Euratom, of 13 May 1996, laying down the basic safety standards for the protection of the
health  of  workers  and  the  general  public  against  the  dangers  arising  from  ionizing  radiation (1),  provides  a
binding  legal  framework  for  health  protection  by  laying  down  strict  rules  on  maximum  permitted  levels  of
radiation for the whole population.

4.
Directive 92/3/Euratom, of 3 February 1992, on the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive
waste between Member States and into and out of the Community (2), deals specifically with the movement of
radioactive waste by establishing a strict supervision system.

In  addition  to  that,  the  Member  State  concerned  shall  apply  the  regulations  concerning  the  transport  of

5.
nuclear materials adopted in the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

(1)  OJ L 159, 29.6.1996, p. 1.
(2)  OJ L 35, 12.2.1992, p. 24.

(98/C 304/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0373/98

by Nuala Ahern (V) to the Council

(19 February 1998)

Subject: Proposed action on threats posed by the Sellafield plant

What steps is the British Presidency planning to take to respond positively to the concerns raised in the debate,
following the statement by the President-in-Office ro Parliament on 14 January 1998, about the environmental,
health and safety and other threats posed by the Sellafield plant? What consultations does the Presidency plan
with the Irish Government over Sellafield during its term of office?

Answer

(18 May 1998)

The Council is fully aware of the importance of environmental, health and safety issues concerning nuclear

1.
plants.

2.
In this respect, the Council would like to remind the Honourable Member of Parliament that Chapter III of
the  Euratom  Treaty  provides  the  legal  framework  for  the  protection  of  health  and  safety  throughout  the
Community. In this context, Article 37 deals specifically with relations with other Member States.