WRITTEN QUESTION E-0032/00 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission. Nuclear threat of Akkuyu.
Date: 2000-01-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Canada, Türkiye, environmental risk prevention, hazard science, nuclear power station

C 219 E/186

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2000)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2000/C 219 E/240)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2853/99

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 January 2000)

Subject: Relocation strategy of the Ford multinational company

The multinationals(cid:146) strategy of relocation is continuing to affect Portugal and its workers. One of the most
recent examples is the case of the US multinational Ford, which, as part of its restructuring policy, now
intends to give up its plant in Azambuja and sell it to Opel, thus ceasing to produce its (cid:145)Transit(cid:146) model in
Portugal as from the first quarter of 2000. More than 300 jobs are at risk.

Can the Commission state what measures it intends to take to oppose Ford(cid:146)s strategy and defend these
jobs?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2000)

While it regrets the negative social impact of Ford(cid:146)s decision concerning its plant in Azambuja, Portugal,
the Commission wishes to remind the Honourable Member that it is not entitled to interfere in business
decisions such as the one referred to here, unless Community law has been infringed.

At this stage there is nothing to indicate that there has been any infringement (and there is no mention of
an infringement in the question).

At any rate the Commission wishes to recall that at least three Community directives may be applicable to
this case: Council Directive 98/59/EC of 20 July 1998 on the approximation of the laws of the Member
States relating to collective redundancies (1), Council Directive 77/187/EEC of 14 February 1977 on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the safeguarding of employees(cid:146) rights in the
event of transfers of undertakings, businesses or parts of businesses (2), and Council Directive 94/45/EC of
22 September 1994 on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-
informing and
scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purpose of
consulting employees (3).

(1) OJ L 225, 12.8.1998.
(2) OJ L 61, 5.3.1977 (Directive amended by Directive 98/50/EC (cid:129) OJ L 201, 17.7.1998).
(3) OJ L 254, 30.9.1994.

(2000/C 219 E/241)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0032/00

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(19 January 2000)

Subject: Nuclear threat of Akkuyu

Further to previous questions and ahead of Turkey(cid:146)s final decision on the construction of a nuclear
in the earthquake-prone region of Akkuyu, Canadian Federal MPs opposed to Canada(cid:146)s
plant

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 219 E/187

intention to supply Turkey with nuclear reactors have made public the following further reasons for
their position:

(cid:129) the financial burden on Canada of a 1,5 billion dollar loan to Turkey,

(cid:129) the possibility of Akkuyu developing into a second Chernobyl which will pose a serious threat to the

lives of 144 million people in the eastern Mediterranean,

(cid:129) the fundamental fear of providing Turkey with the means of manufacturing nuclear weapons through

related technology, as occurred with India and Pakistan.

Furthermore, recent studies by eminent seismologists, such as Karl Buckthought of
the Earthquake
Forecasts Incorporation, conclude that there is a 50 % probability of a Richter Scale 7 earthquake occurring
within the next 40 years which will completely destroy the reactor with the loss of millions of human
lives.

In the light of the above and the new circumstances created by the recent disastrous earthquakes, in what
manner will the Commission intervene to enable Turkey to acquire the financial means to develop
renewable energy sources and to call off the construction of the nuclear plant?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to Oral Question H-781/99 by
Mr Souladakis during question time at Parliament(cid:146)s January 2000 part-session (1).

(1) Debates of the Parliament (January 2000).

(2000/C 219 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0067/00

by Manuel Medina Ortega (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Latin America and budget headings

(24 January 2000)

Could the Commission provide information concerning the rate of implementation of the budget headings
intended to support the development of the various Latin American countries during 1988 and 1999?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(21 February 2000)

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat a table
containing the information requested.

(2000/C 219 E/243)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0130/00

by Jens-Peter Bonde (EDD) to the Commission

(18 January 2000)

Subject: Administration of OLAF

Will the Commission ensure that officials do not make public pronouncements on guilt when a national
prosecuting authority has decided to drop its inquiries into a case begun at the prompting of UCLAF/
OLAF?