WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2546/98 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Shipments of nuclear waste
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: BREYER, European Parliament
Subjects: EU Member State, application of EU law, approximation of laws, committee of inquiry, radioactive waste, rail transport, safety standard, transport of dangerous goods, transport safety













EUR-Lex - 91998E2546 - EN






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91998E2546

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2546/98 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Shipments of nuclear waste  


Official Journal C 135 , 14/05/1999 P. 0070 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2546/98by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission(1 September 1998)Subject: Shipments of nuclear waste1. A number of years have gone by since the publication of the report by the European Parliament's Committee of Inquiry on the Handling and Transport of Nuclear Material and the adoption of a directive on this subject. In view of the revelations that the limit values for the transport of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuels are grossly exceeded, does the Commission feel it would be useful for the European Parliament to appoint another Committee of Inquiry?2. Does the Commission agree that because the limit values for the transport of radoactive waste and spent nuclear fuels transported from the Federal Republic of Germany and Switzerland to France have been exceeded this constitutes contravention of Council Directive 92/3/EURATOM(1) of 3 February 1992 based on Article 31 Euratom Treaty?What action does the Commission intend to take against this contravention?Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission(5 October 1998)1. It is clearly for the Parliament to decide whether or not an enquiry should be undertaken. The Commission would, however, suggest that the following points be taken into consideration: (a) despite the number of incidents now revealed it seems clear that there was no breach of the Community dose limits; (b) the final results of the investigations by the French and German authorities are not yet available but will obviously be relevant to any decision; (c) the Commission has itself given an undertaking to examine these results once available and to consult all relevant Member States to ensure that the lessons learned are widely disseminated and appropriate actions taken at national and Community levels.2. According to Article 3 of Council 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), "the transport operations necessary for shipment shall comply with Community and national provisions and with international agreements on the transport of radioactive material".In the present case national provisions which are in conformity with Annex VII of the RID (Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail) have been violated by operators. The RID is Appendix B of the Convention concerning international carriage by rail (COTIF). Council Directive 96/49/EC of 23 July 1996 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by rail(3) introduces the RID as a mandatory text for national and intracommunity transport.It is for the national authorities to ensure that the situation is rectified. The Commission will verify that the necessary measures have been taken at national level.(1) OJ L 35, 12.2.1992, p. 24.(2) OJ L 35, 12.2.1992.(3) OJ L 235, 17.9.1996.