WRITTEN QUESTION E-0477/00 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Sellafield reprocessing plant and Cap de la Hague.
Date: 2000-02-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, degree of pollution, fuel reprocessing, marine pollution, pollution control measures, radioactive effluent, radioactive pollution, radiobiology

C 330 E/170

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.11.2000

Following the judgements of 3 December 1998 in case C-368/96 and of 16 December 1999 in case
C-94/98, even if the holder of a marketing authorisation for an original medicinal product withdraws that
authorisation in favour of one for a medicinal product the formula of which contains the same active
ingredients but different constituents although it still has the same therapeutic effect, a marketing
authorisation may be granted for the generic medicinal product by referring to either formula.

Following these judgements and others concerning medicinal products, it is necessary to improve the
information available on this subject. Supplementary information will be therefore be published in the
notice to applicants for marketing authorisations as provided for in the Annex to Council Directive 75/
318/EEC of 20 May 1975 on the approximation of the laws of Member States relating to analytical,
pharmaco-toxicological and clinical standards and protocols in respect of the testing of proprietary
medicinal products (1). This is currently being prepared in cooperation with the Member States.

(1) OJ L 147, 9.6.1975.

(2000/C 330 E/193)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0477/00

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 February 2000)

Subject: Sellafield reprocessing plant and Cap de la Hague

Numerous data from university institutes and reliable environmental organisations substantiate the
progressive contamination of Europe(cid:146)s seas. The Commission has been aware of such information for
years (Petition 393/95). It has also been kept informed of worsening findings in the intervening period. As
a contracting party to the OSPAR Convention, the Commission aims by 2020 to bring down measurement
values for radioactivity throughout the European marine and North East Atlantic biotope to natural levels.

1. What information in terms of emission levels and radioactive contamination of the coastal and
marine biotope by the Sellafield reprocessing plant and Cap de la Hague has been forwarded to the
Commission by the public authorities of the operating countries in the past few years?

2. Why has the Commission taken no account of the alarming findings of university institutes and
reliable environmental organisations? Why has it until now relied exclusively on the findings and
interpretations communicated by the operating countries(cid:146) public authorities when assessing the situation?
How does it rate their scientific independence?

Is it the Commission(cid:146)s opinion that it has fulfilled its duty of care, having inspected the Sellafield

3.
reprocessing plant and Cap de la Hague only once in each case over a 10-year period (1989-1999)?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 2000)

The information which the Honourable Member seeks,
in respect of the provision of information by
Member States of levels of radioactivity in the environment, and of the manner in which the Commission
interprets this information and that from other sources, has been supplied in response to the Honourable
Member(cid:146)s Written Question E-2585/99 (1).

The Commission, as a contracting party to the Convention for the protection of the marine environment
of the north east Atlantic, is playing an active role in contributing to the implementation of the Oslo-Paris
Commission (OSPAR) strategy with regard to radioactive substances. The manner in which the Commi-
ssion could most effectively contribute to the implementation of this strategy was discussed by contracting
parties at the OSPAR Radiation absorbed doses (RAD) meeting, hosted by the Commission, in Luxembourg
from 18 to 21 January 2000. As a result of this, and earlier discussions, the Commission has undertaken
to carry out several actions to assist the implementation of the strategy,
including a commitment to
undertake an update of
the Mar(cid:237)na project on the radiological exposure in the Community from
radioactivity in north European marine waters.

21.11.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/171

The Commission has carried out verification visits, under Article 35 of the Euratom treaty, to Sellafield and
to Cap de la Hague as part of a planned programme of such visits to all Member States, which continues.
The Commission is achieving as high a level of verification visits as possible within the constraints of
resources allocated at present.

(1) See page 24.

(2000/C 330 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0480/00

by Alejandro Cercas (PSE) to the Commission

(24 February 2000)

Subject: Allocation from the Structural Funds for the region of Estremedura for the period 2000-2006

Could the Commission indicate the amount of funding the Spanish region of Estremedura is likely to
receive under the Structural Funds for the period 2000-2006?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 2000)

A precise figure cannot be put at this stage on the Structural Funds appropriations for the Extremadura
region in the 2000-2006 programming period. Objective 1 assistance is currently being negotiated with
the Spanish authorities. The amounts which will be allocated to Extremadura under the Interreg, Urban,
Equal and Leader Community Initiatives are similarly hard to estimate at this stage.

In the case of Objective 1, the Commission sent each Member State a proposal for allocating the available
funding between the eligible regions, based on the method it had used to allocate the budget for Objective
1 among the Member States. A copy of the proposal for Spain is being sent direct to the Honourable
Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

It should be stressed, however, that the proposal is only indicative. The Member State and the Commission
will together agree on the final distribution when adopting the Community support framework.

(2000/C 330 E/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0483/00

by Alejandro Cercas (PSE) to the Commission

(24 February 2000)

Subject: Funding under the EQUAL Community initiative

Could the Commission indicate the amount of funding the Spanish region of Estremedura is likely to
receive under the EQUAL Community initiative?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2000)

The Commission cannot, at this stage, make any forecast of the amount of funding to be attributed to the
Region of Extremadura following the implementation of the EQUAL initiative in Spain. In the EQUAL
proposal, only an indicative amount is declared for each Member State. In the case of Spain, it must await
the presentation of the Spanish operational programme and the selection of projects to know what
amount will be received by Extremadura.