WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3285/98 by Marialiese FLEMMING The Council's efforts to achieve uniform safety standards for nuclear power stations in the European Union
Date: 1998-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, FLEMMING
Subjects: European Union, application of EU law, environmental protection, nuclear power station, nuclear safety, public safety, radioactivity, safety standard













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91998E3285

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3285/98 by Marialiese FLEMMING The Council's efforts to achieve uniform safety standards for nuclear power stations in the European Union  


Official Journal C 289 , 11/10/1999 P. 0033 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3285/98by Marialiese Flemming (PPE) to the Council(10 November 1998)Subject: The Council's efforts to achieve uniform safety standards for nuclear power stations in the European UnionIn 1975(1) and 1992(2) the Council of Ministers adopted resolutions on the "technological problems of nuclear safety". They call for the progressive harmonisation of safety requirements and criteria in order to provide an equivalent and satisfactory degree of protection of the population and the environment against the risks of radiation resulting from nuclear activities. As the Euratom Treaty does not contain any pertinent provisions, this resolution is particularly important.What uniform safety standards has it so far been possible to introduce under these resolutions? What action is the Council taking to encourage the future establishment of uniform safety standards? Are there plans for the Council to adopt further resolutions on this subject?Reply(29 March 1999)1. The Council attaches very great importance to nuclear safety, hence its adoption of the two Resolutions to which the Honourable Member refers, and the close attention it is giving to their implementation by the Commission, the Member States and the industries.The Council recalls that competence and responsibility for the safe design, construction and operation of a nuclear installation rests with the Member State having jurisdiction over such an installation and recalls the complementary acquis communautaire in the field of nuclear safety based on the EAEC Treaty, in particular Chapter III (health and safety).2. In its report of 13 December 1993 entitled "Towards a system of safety criteria and requirements recognised throughout the Community and a genuine safety culture throughout Europe"(3), which was also sent to the European Parliament, the Commission gave a precise account of the situation concerning the implementation of the two Resolutions.The Council will of course examine any further report that the Commission sees fit to present on this subject.3. Recently, on 7 December 1998, the Council adopted a Decision approving the accession of the European Atomic Energy Community to the Nuclear Safety Convention.The aim of the Convention is to achieve and maintain a high level of nuclear safety worldwide through national measures and international cooperation, and to establish effective defences in nuclear installations against potential radiological hazards in order to protect individuals, society and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation from such installations.4. On 7 December 1998 the Council also adopted conclusions on nuclear safety in the context of the enlargement of the European Union, with the purpose of ensuring that a high level of nuclear safety continues to be given priority in the accession process, including by helping the applicant countries to ensure that technological and operational safety levels are aligned with current prevailing practice in the Union.(1) OJ C 185, 14.8.1975, p. 1.(2) OJ C 172, 8.7.1992, p. 2.(3) COM(93) 649 final.