WRITTEN QUESTION E-0596/00 by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) and Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Turkish ministers' disagreements and concerns about Akkuyu ‐ European strategy for nuclear safety.
Date: 2000-02-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Türkiye, environmental protection, health risk, natural hazard, nuclear power station, nuclear safety, siting of power stations

21.11.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/189

Together they will be in a dominant position. This will enable them to charge higher prices for carrying
and switching global Internet traffic. Will the Commission carry out an urgent review of the proposed new
merger between Sprint and MCI WorldCom and ensure that such a merger does not go ahead as it would
have serious consequences for European wholesale (ISP) and retail customers (Internet users)?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(27 March 2000)

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that the Commission is carefully assessing the
merger between MCI WorldCom and Sprint. The Commission decided on 21 February 2000 to enter into
a four months full investigation of the impact the merger may have on competition in the common
market.

The Commission already in 1998 examined the effects of the merger between MCI and WorldCom on the
market for the provision of Internet connectivity. The Commission(cid:146)s investigation in the current transac-
tion is also this time first and foremost focusing on the market for the provision of top level connectivity
services in the Internet (i.e. those networks to which anybody must directly or indirectly have access in
order to get universal reach on the Internet). In addition, the Commission is investigating the market for
the provision of global telecommunications services to multinational corporations and the market for
termination into the United States of international calls originated in the Community.

If the Commission(cid:146)s investigation concludes that the merger will lead to a creation or a strengthening of a
dominant position in any of these markets, the parties have the possibility to propose remedies to
eliminate these concerns.

The final decision on this transaction is expected by early July 2000.

(2000/C 330 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0596/00

by Ioannis Mar(cid:237)nos (PPE-DE) and Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 February 2000)

Subject: Turkish ministers(cid:146) disagreements and concerns about Akkuyu (cid:129) European strategy for nuclear

safety

The Turkish Environment Minister, Ms Aykut, stated at the conference in Mersin on 2 February 2000 that
she was not fully informed about the dangers arising from the construction of a nuclear power plant at
Akkuyu, that comprehensive information on the power plant had not been provided and that she was
personally opposed to the construction of a nuclear power station. The Turkish Minister for Tourism,
Mr Mumcu, expressed similar opposition in the newspaper Cumhuriyet, emphasising that Akkuyu is only
120 kilometres from the tourist beaches of Mersin. In addition, Mr Ulug, professor at Izmir University, has
said that (cid:145)the stance adopted by those who favour the construction of a nuclear power plant in an
earthquake-prone area is an outrage(cid:146). Finally, Greenpeace spokesperson Ms Keskin has stated that (cid:145)in the
event of an accident radiation would contaminate not only Turkey, but also Cyprus, the Mediterranean, the
Middle East, North Africa and even the Caucasus(cid:146).

1.
Could the Commission say what its position is with regard to the above statements, which very
clearly demonstrate opposition to and pronounced unease over the planned construction of a nuclear
power plant at Akkuyu and also over the consequences that this will have for the environment, tourism
and the health of millions of citizens living in southern Turkey and neighbouring countries, including EU
citizens, since the region where the plant will be established is one of considerable seismic activity?

C 330 E/190

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.11.2000

In view of the Council decision that (cid:145)Turkey is a candidate State destined to join the Union on the
2.
basis of the same criteria as applied to the other candidate States(cid:146) and the positions adopted by the
Council, the Commission and Parliament concerning nuclear safety and enlargement, what action will the
Commission take to prevent the construction of a nuclear power plant in an earthquake-prone area, which
the Turks themselves describe as an outrage?

3.
Is it possible for Community funding to be given to support energy sector activities for the
development of nuclear power stations in earthquake-prone areas within the framework of the customs
union and the regulations concerning economic and social development with Turkey, when there are such
the principles of
crucial concerns and when Parliament has expressly called on Turkey to respect
sustainable development?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2000)

The Honourable Member should refer to the Commission(cid:146)s answer to the oral question H-0781/99 that
was asked by Mr Souladakis during the January 2000 session question time (1).

The Commission would add that it has no intention of using Community funds to support in any way the
building of nuclear reactors in Turkey.

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

(2000/C 330 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0606/00

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: European Day for Tolerance

(3 March 2000)

The past century bore witness to countless attacks on freedom of expression, killings for crimes of
conscience, cases of torture on racial and religious grounds and other atrocities contrary to the notion of
the human being as a free entity. The sense of collective shame we must feel as a result of this should form
the basis for a constant refusal ever to repeat the countless mistakes made in this respect.

As the spectre of a possible return to the errors of the past looms once more on the horizon threatening
the peaceful co-existence of European democratic society, perhaps we might consider the creation of an
annual European Day for Tolerance.

Will the Commission indicate whether it would consider using its right of initiative to propose that each
year the European Union set aside a day to celebrate tolerance as the very cornerstone upon which
European co-existence is built?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2000)

The Commission deplores all crimes against people(cid:146)s fundamental rights and supports the notion of
peaceful co-existence. However, the Commission does not intend to propose an annual European day for
tolerance.