WRITTEN QUESTION No. 997/99 by Patricia McKENNA Measures taken by the EU to close Chernobyl nuclear power plant
Date: 1999-04-20
Institutions: European Parliament, MCKENNA
Subjects: EU relations, Ukraine, international agreement, nuclear policy, nuclear power station, nuclear safety

C 370/150

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.12.1999

(1999/C 370/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0992/99

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(15 April 1999)

Subject: aid to Kazakhstan

In the wake of reports that areas of Kazakhstan are still suffering the horrific after-effects of nuclear testing
by the former Soviet Union, does the Commission intend to make aid available through TACIS and similar
programmes to ease the problems which Kazakhstan is now facing?

A recent survey has shown that the area where the nuclear testing took place, over 20 years ago, is now
one of the most polluted in the world. An estimated 1,5 million people are believed to have been affected
by cancer, respiratory diseases and mental illness but due to poor economy those worst affected cannot
receive proper medical
facts such as these, has the
Commission proposed any kind of humanitarian aid package?

treatment or move elsewhere.

In the light of

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1999)

The Commission is well aware of the effects of nuclear testing by the former Soviet Union in Kazakhstan.
In May 1998, during the joint committee meeting, the Kazak vice minister for environment showed a file
about the effects of nuclear tests in Kazakhstan. In November 1998, the minister of Ecology of the Kazak
Republic, visited Brussels and informed the Commission about the situation in Semipalatinsk, the area
where the nuclear test took place. He asked for Tacis support for his region.

The Commission showed willingness to support a project if this would be requested by the Kazak
authorities during the negotiations of the 1999 action programme. However, the Kazak government did
not include in the negotiations of the TACIS action programme, a request concerning the effects of nuclear
tests in Semipalatinsk, and consequently no project has been included in the 1999 TACIS action
programme.

During the preparation of the next action programme, the Commission will remind the Kazak government
that projects linked to the effects of the nuclear tests could be considered.

Concerning humanitarian aid, the Commission has also been contacted by the Kazak authorities about
these problems. It informed them that it was ready to consider, within its mandate, any requests related to
these issues that were submitted by eligible partners. However, because of the scale of the problem, any
programme should also include a capacity building component and be presented and implemented by a
non governmental or international organisation which are its partners. Unfortunately, the Commission has
not received so far any proposal.

(1999/C 370/211)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0997/99

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(20 April 1999)

Subject: Measures taken by the EU to close Chernobyl nuclear power plant

Can the Commission explain why a third reactor is being opened at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in
the Ukraine when measures are supposed to be underway to close the entire plant by the end of the year
2000?

The European Union has decided not to fund the closure of the nuclear plant and the European Parliament
has approved this decision.

In the light of this decision will the Commission explain how it intends to ensure the full closure of the
power plant by the end of 2000, and in doing so ensure the safety of its citizens and those of the Ukraine?