WRITTEN QUESTION E-0031/00 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council. Nuclear threat of Akkuyu.
Date: 2000-01-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Türkiye, accession to the European Union, aid programme, common foreign and security policy, earthquake, energy policy, natural hazard, nuclear power station, renewable energy, siting of power stations

3.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 280 E/163

According to the Helsinki European Council conclusions, building on the existing European strategy,
Turkey, like other candidate States, will benefit from a pre-accession strategy to stimulate and support its
reforms. This will include enhanced political dialogue, with emphasis on progressing towards fulfilling the
political criteria for accession with particular reference inter alia to the issue of human rights. In practice,
in all the political dialogue meetings with the Turkish authorities at the level of Foreign Ministers and
Political Directors the Council addresses human rights issues.

(2000/C 280 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0030/00

by Marianne Eriksson (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Monitoring of the referendum in Western Sahara

(19 January 2000)

For more than seven years, the Sahrawi people have been waiting for news from the Moroccan authorities
about a referendum on the future of Western Sahara. The Moroccan authorities have more than once
broken agreements they had with Polisario regarding the date of the referendum. However, registration of
those entitled to vote has now resumed, and a referendum campaign is being planned that is expected to
be concluded on 31 July 2000, which is also the date on which the referendum is scheduled to take place.
The risk of electoral fraud is great, and an international team of monitors needs to be sent in order to
ensure that the referendum takes place in a democratic manner. Will the Commission assist in monitoring
the referendum on the future of Western Sahara?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2000)

The Commission is keeping track of developments in the implementation of the plan adopted by the UN
Security Council for the settlement of the Western Sahara conflict. The UN Secretary-General(cid:146)s efforts to
find a just, equitable and lasting solution for the Western Sahara have its full support. It is therefore ready
to provide assistance at every stage of the planned settlement. On the specific issue of the referendum, the
Commission is aware that its organisation is threatened by problems with the finalisation of the electoral
lists. As the UN Security Council pointed out in resolution 1282/99 of 14 December 1999, these problems
(cid:145)... seem to allow little possibility of holding the referendum before 2002 or even beyond(cid:146).

(2000/C 280 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0031/00

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(20 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 plant in
the earthquake-prone region of Akkuyu, Canadian Federal MPs opposed to Canada(cid:146)s 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.

C 280 E/164

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.10.2000

the Earthquake
Furthermore, recent studies by eminent seismologists, such as Karl Buckthought of
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 Council intervene to enable Turkey to acquire the financial means to develop renewable
energy sources and to call off the construction of the nuclear plant?

Reply

(16 March 2000)

The Council is well aware of the importance of nuclear safety in third countries and has initiated a series
of actions,
in particular through assistance programmes. On 7 December 1998, the Council adopted
conclusions on nuclear safety in the context of the enlargement of the European Union (1) which give a
clear message to candidate countries on the importance to be given to nuclear safety.

The Council shares the views of the Honourable Parliamentarian on the need to promote the development
of renewable energy sources. In this context, it underlines that the promotion of renewable sources of
energy in countries of the Mediterranean regions, including Turkey, is mainly ensured through cooperation
within the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and its principal financial instrument, the MEDA Programme,
and through the SYNERGY Programme, which is one of the specific programmes in the international field
within the multiannual Framework Programme for actions in the energy sector (2).

Both Programmes provide for actions which contribute to the achievement of the objectives of energy
policy: security of supply, competitiveness and protection of
the environment and have particular
components for the development of renewable energy sources. The implementation of these Programmes
is the responsibility of the Commission.

(1) Doc. 13677/98 (Presse 431-G).
(2) OJ L 7, 13.1.1999, p. 16.

(2000/C 280 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0036/00

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission

(19 January 2000)

Subject: Constanta-Trieste oil pipeline project

According to various reports in the press, two projects for the construction of a new oil pipeline linking
the Romanian port of Constanta to the Italian port of Trieste are currently under examination, one by the
Italian company ENI and one by an American consortium. The pipeline would cross Hungary and Slovenia
and would also provide oil to these two applicant countries.

Does the Commission not think it would be advisable to support the construction of this pipeline,
particularly in the light of recent ecological disasters, such as the oil slicks in the VendØe and the
Bosphorus strait, and also in order to promote improved access to the Transcaucasus, the diversification
of energy supply routes for the countries of central and south-east Europe and the development of the
ports of Supsa and Constanta?

Has the Commission already taken or does it intend to take any initiatives on this matter?