WRITTEN QUESTION P-1660/99 by Massimo Carraro (PSE) to the Commission. Council Directive 92/0081/EEC of 19 October 1992 on the harmonisation of the structures of excise duties on mineral oils.
Date: 1999-09-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Slovenia, environmental risk prevention, natural hazard, nuclear policy, nuclear power station, nuclear safety

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(2000/C 170 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1659/99

by Hubert Pirker (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 September 1999)

Subject: Krsko nuclear power station

In his hearing before the European Parliament, Commissioner-designate G(cid:252)nter Verheugen stressed that
the accession to the EU of individual applicant countries would be dependent on the decommissioning of
unsafe nuclear power stations and the submission of plans for withdrawing from the production of
electricity generated by nuclear power in stations posing risks. Mr Verheugen emphasised that, on the
matter of the safety of nuclear power stations, there was not the slightest room for compromise. However,
the nuclear power station in Krsko, Slovenia was not included among those listed by the Commissioner-
designate, although it is situated in an earthquake fault zone and therefore poses a huge threat.

What action does the Commission intend to take to ensure that this unsafe nuclear power station in
Slovenia, a country applying for accession, is decommissioned, removing the threat which it poses in
particular to the adjoining Austrian L(cid:228)nder of Carinthia and Styria?

Will the Commission attach the same conditions to the decommissioning of Krsko as those set out by
Commissioner-designate Verheugen regarding the unsafe power stations to which he referred?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 1999)

The Commission has already stated that the Soviet designed nuclear power plants (NPP) considered non-
upgradable operating in candidate countries, should be closed at the earliest practical date, in accordance
with agreed timetables. This is the case of the Ignalina NPP in Lithuania, units 1-4 of the Kozloduy NPP in
Bulgaria and Bohunice V1 in Slovakia. Towards this objective, the Commission is negotiating with these
three countries through joint working groups.

The case of Krsko in Slovenia is different. It is a plant of Western design, similar to other plants of this
type operating in the Community and other Western countries. Slovenia continues the safety improvement
programmes of the plant. Agenda 2000 states that (cid:145)Where Western-designed plants are in operation
(Romania and Slovenia), developments should be monitored to ensure that operations comply with the
appropriate safety standards. Technical assistance can be provided if necessary(cid:146).

The accession partnership with Slovenia identifies two medium-term priorities in this field namely the
strengthening of the nuclear safety authority and the adjustment of the Slovenian nuclear policy and
investment plans in line with the results of
in the
surroundings of the Krsko nuclear power plant.

the seismic risk assessment

to be carried out

In this context, over one M€ has been allocated in the framework of the PHARE programme to support
the safety authority, notably through transfer of methodologies and procedure from Community nuclear
safety regulators. Also in the framework of the PHARE programme, and with the aim of re-evaluating the
seismicity of the area and its potential impact on the plant design, € 500 000 is being provided to the
Krsko nuclear power plant. The first results of the study are expected by the end of the present year.

(2000/C 170 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1660/99

by Massimo Carraro (PSE) to the Commission

(14 September 1999)

Subject: Council Directive 92/0081/EEC of 19 October 1992 on the harmonisation of the structures of

excise duties on mineral oils

Law No 448 of 1998 adopted by the Italian Parliament provides for a reduction in the cost of fuel oil and
liquefied petroleum gases used in administrative districts in certain parts of the country where, because of

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the special geographical or climatic conditions, or other factors, such as the absence of a gas supply,
particular use is made of such fuels. The law in question will, therefore, help reduce the cost of living for
families resident in such areas.

At the sitting of 15 July 1999 of the Chamber of Deputies, Luigi Oliveri MP, called on the Undersecretary
of State for Finance, Ferdinando de Franciscis MP to explain the delay in the issuing of a decree
implementing Law No 448 of 1998, which had already been adopted by the Italian Council of Ministers
on 9 March 1999. The Undersecretary of State asserted that under Directive 92/0081/EEC (1)
it was
necessary to obtain authorisation from the European Union in order to implement a reduction in the cost
of fuel oil and liquefied petroleum gases. The authorisation must therefore be obtained before the relevant
implementing regulation can be issued.

Since 3 December 1998, when the request for authorisation was forwarded by the Finance Ministry to the
Community authorities, the European Union has been unable to provide a response, despite the fact that
Italy has provided Commission officials with all the information required in order for a decision to be
reached.

Can the Commission explain why there has been such a serious delay in granting authorisation or what
reasons there may be for refusing to grant authorisation? When will a decision be taken?

(1) OJ L 316, 31.10.1992, p. 12.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(11 October 1999)

The Italian government requested authorisation to introduce reductions in excise duty for the products
described by the Honourable Member in certain special geographical regions under Article 8(4) of Council
Directive 92/0081/EEC of 19 October 1992 on the harmonisation of the structures of excise duties on
mineral oils. Under this Article, the Council, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission, may
authorise any Member State to introduce exemptions or reductions in excise duty on mineral oils for
specific policy considerations.

The Italian authorities informed the Commission of
their intention to introduce this measure on
3 December 1998. However, this notification did not contain sufficient information for the Commission
to process the application and prepare a proposal. An exchange of letters took place during February
and March 1999 until at the Commission(cid:146)s suggestion, a meeting was held in Rome. During this meeting
the Commission outlined the information required to take the application forward.

Following the meeting, by an exchange of letters the Italian government was able to clarify the request and
on 29 June 1999, the Commission had sufficient information to take the request forward. Accordingly the
initial request and subsequent explanatory letters were registered by the Commission on that date.

Under the terms of Article 8(4) of Directive 92/0081/EEC, the Commission has to inform all Member
States of the proposed measure within one month. Letters to that effect were issued by the Commission on
28 July 1999. The same Article allows two months for any Member State, or the Commission to ask for
the matter to be further considered by the Council.

There have been a few days delay recently because of the appointment of the new Commission. The
Honourable Member can be assured that the new Commission will deal with the request from the Italian
government at the first opportunity.

Subject to agreement by the Commission, there will be no delay in submitting the necessary proposal to
the Council.