WRITTEN QUESTION E-1727/00 by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Research into the dangers to the environment of a breach-of-containment accident at a number of nuclear plants.
Date: 2000-05-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, European standard, accidental pollution, environmental protection, environmental risk prevention, public health, radioactive waste, waste management

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/81

ensure that this growth will remain non-inflationary. Ministers are determined to speed us ongoing
fiscal consolidation and structural reforms towards a knowledge-based, full-employment economy
according to the orientations set by the special European Council
in Lisbon, thus increasing the
growth potential of our economies.

In this context, we share a common concern about the present level of the euro which does not reflect
the strong economic fundamentals of the euro area.

Although the Council itself has not taken a position on the recent developments of the external value of
the euro, it may be pointed out in the above context that in the broad guidelines of the economic policies
of the Member States and of the Community for 1999/2000, adopted on 12 July 1999 (1), the Council
underlined that strong, sustainable growth and employment constitute the main priority and that growth
and stability-oriented macroeconomic policies and comprehensive and co-ordinated economic reforms are
the main means.

(1) OJ L 217, 17.8.1999, p. 34.

(2001/C 81 E/098)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1726/00

by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Assessment of the hazards posed to neighbouring EU states by the storage of radioactive liquid

waste at Sellafield in the United Kingdom

What assessment has been made of the hazards posed to EU states adjacent to the United Kingdom by the
build-up and storage of high-activity radioactive liquid wastes at Sellafield in Cumbria, UK, resulting from
the reprocessing of spent irradiated nuclear fuel?

(2001/C 81 E/099)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1727/00

by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Research into the dangers to the environment of a breach-of-containment accident at a number of

nuclear plants

What research has been done by the Commission, Euratom or the Joint Research Centres on behalf of the
Commission, into the dangers to the environment of a breach-of-containment accident at the high-activity
liquor (HAL) storage tanks in operation respectively at:

(a) BNFL Sellafield,

(b) UKAEA Dounreay,

(c) Cogema La Hague,

(d) CEA Marcoßle,

(e) KFK Karlsruhe?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1726/00 and E-1727/00
given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2000)

The high active liquor (HAL) storage facility at Sellafield has been in place since 1955. In connection with
the incorporation of high level waste concentrate into glass in the Windscale vitrification plan (WVP) in
1990, a submission of general data under Article 37 Euratom treaty for this plant was made in January

C 81 E/82

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

1990 and the Commission gave an opinion on this submission. The general data provided information on
a reference accident which was the loss of cooling to the HAL feed vessel. It was concluded that in the
event of an unplanned release of this type and magnitude the doses likely to be received by the population
in Ireland, or any other Member State, would not be significant from the point of view of health. The
updated review of safety of the storage of liquid high level waste at British Nuclear Fuel Limited (BNFL)
Sellafield (HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, February 2000) does not provide information that would
be cause for reconsideration of this assessment.

It is the responsibility of the respective Member States to require similar assessments to be carried out for
the storage tanks in operation at United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Dounreay, Compagnie
gØnØrale des matiŁres nuclØaires La Hague, Commissariat (cid:224) l(cid:146)Energie Atomique Marcoule, and Forschungs-
centrum Karlsruhe, with regard to the potential exposure of members of the public and resulting health
effects.

Bearing in mind that there are multiple containment layers, a breach of containment could nevertheless
lead to significant levels of radioactivity in rivers or in the marine environment. It is thus appropriate to
look into a possible detriment to the environment, in addition to man. The Commission has undertaken a
research programme on effects on animal and plant life in the region and corresponding ecological
detriment, and on the development of a rationale and methodology for setting standards of protection,
with a view to establishing environmental quality standards. Such standards could then be applied to the
assessment of the consequences of a major spillage of liquid radioactive wastes.

(2001/C 81 E/100)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1732/00

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Commission policy on implementation of the EU budget for 2000 in respect of the promotion

and safeguard of regional and minority languages

The two EU budgetary authorities, Parliament and the Council, agreed to set aside a number of budget
headings under the Community budget
for 2000 to promote and safeguard minority and regional
languages.

Specifically, under budget line B3-1003N (preparatory actions for promotion of the linguistic diversity of
the Community in the information society), with € 2 million total funding, it was indicated that in today(cid:146)s
information society, the purpose of this heading was to promote the linguistic diversity of the Community,
including regional and minority languages, and to provide financing for preparatory measures with a view
to the designation of 2001 as European Year of Languages, including sign languages.

In its reply to my written question E-0466/00 of 19 April 2000, the Commission stated that it intended to
use the entire € 2 million sum that was finally agreed for preparatory measures for the European Year of
Languages. The Commission also stated that at the end of April 2000 it intended to issue a call for
proposals for preparatory measures for the joint monitoring of the Multilingual Information Society (MLIS)
and Info 2000 programmes and that,
languages would be considered,
including regional and minority languages, on condition that this was justified by the objectives of the
proposed measures and that they complied with the criteria laid down in the call for proposals.

in principle, proposals for all

Will the Commission give details both of the source of the funding and of the total amount it plans to
make available for preparatory measures for 2000 for the MLIS and Info 2000 programmes, given that, as
stated in the reply to my previous question, it intends to use the entire sum set aside under budget heading
B3-1003N for preparatory measures for the European Year of Languages in 2001?