WRITTEN QUESTION P-1508/01 by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission. Nuclear waste.
Date: 2001-05-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Russia, export of waste, nuclear safety, radioactive waste

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/173

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 2001)

Council Regulation (EC) No 558/2001 of 19 March 2001 extending for a period of up to one year the
financing of certain quality and marketing improvement plans approved under Title IIa of Regulation (EEC)
No 1035/72, enables recognised producer organisations, whose improvement plans were approved in
1990, to request continued financing of their plans for up to one year and until 15 June 2001 at the
latest.

This right is maintained for a producer organisation whose improvement plan was approved in 1990, and
which ceased to exist following its merger with a new organisation whose plan dates from after 1990.

Thus areas within a plan which was approved in 1990, and which subsequently have been included
in/transferred to another plan, retain eligibility for an eleventh year of aid under Regulation (EC) No 558/
2001, and up to 15 June 2001 at the latest, as long as all other conditions pertaining to the eligibility for
aid remain fulfilled.

(2001/C 350 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1508/01

by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission

(15 May 2001)

Subject: Nuclear waste

On 23 April 2001, the Danish media reported the adoption by the Russian Duma of a proposal enabling
Russia to import nuclear waste from a number of EU Member States. What are the implications of existing
EU legislation regarding Russia(cid:146)s wish to set up nuclear waste disposal sites and to import and store waste
for payment? Will the Commission also say whether, in the light of the disturbing developments in Russia,
there are plans to revise the current provisions and lay down common rules to ensure that extremely
hazardous nuclear waste is always handled in the safest possible way?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2001)

Euratom legislation requires the Commission to authorise exports of nuclear materials from any Member
State to a third country. The Commission has to ensure compliance with international agreements, verify
supply requirements and satisfy itself that the general interests of the Community will be safeguarded. In
cases where nuclear material is sent for reprocessing and subsequently returns to the Community, the
Commission(cid:146)s authorisation is not required, but the Commission has to be informed.

Export of radioactive material falls under the scope of Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 laying
down basic safety standards for the protection of health of workers and the general public against dangers
arising from ionising radiation (1). This provides for principles of justification, optimisation and dose
limitation as well as reporting obligations that must be respected by Member States.

Under Council Directive 92/3/Euratom of 3 February 1992 on the supervision and control of shipments of
radioactive waste between Member States and into and out of the Community (2), Member States are
prohibited from exporting shipments of radioactive waste to third countries that do not have the
(cid:145)technical, legal or administrative resources(cid:146) to manage it safely. It would therefore be for the relevant
authorities in Member States to assess whether this condition is met before any nuclear waste could be
shipped to the Russian Federation. Similar rules will apply to any shipments of spent fuel with the entry
into force of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and Radioactive Waste
(18 June 2001).

C 350 E/174

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

The Commission is preparing the accession of the Euratom Community to this Joint Convention, and
Community legislation will be revised to align it fully with the Convention.

(1) OJ L 159, 29.6.1996.
(2) OJ L 35, 12.2.1992.

(2001/C 350 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1511/01

by Jeffrey Titford (EDD) to the Commission

(15 May 2001)

Subject: New Banana Import Regime

On 2 May the European Commission adopted a regulation to implement a new (cid:145)Banana Import Regime(cid:146),
following agreements reached between the EU, the US and Ecuador. In view of the great concerns being
expressed by British banana importing companies, could the Commission indicate what the effects of this
Regime will be on British companies. If the effects on British companies are not currently available, please
specify when they will be available.

Please explain why this new Regime has been agreed, despite strenuous objections from many interested
parties including the European Community Banana Trade Association, the Banana Plantation Workers(cid:146)
Union (SITRAP) of Costa Rica, The National Chamber of Independent Banana Producers SA, the CSIB
(Higher Council of Banana Importers (cid:129) France), the Banana Consultative Committee and many others?

In view of the Banana Consultative Committee(cid:146)s strong objections to the Regime on the grounds that it is
seriously (cid:145)damaging the UK/EU banana trade, damaging to Caribbean sources and discriminatory(cid:146) and that
(cid:145)the timetable for implementation does not give sufficient time to renegotiate the necessary substantial
amendments to fruit purchase and logistical contracts(cid:146), why is the Commission proceeding with this
Regime in such haste and without proper consultation?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2001)

The new regime has been agreed because it resolves the longstanding dispute with the United States and
Ecuador on the Community banana import regime and the United States have agreed to suspend sanctions
from 1 July 2001. Also, most parties concerned preferred a system based on historical references, although
the Commission had, until the Understandings were reached, pursued an approach based on First Come
First Served since it had been the only viable option up to that time.

The Regulation adopted by the Commission on 28May 2001 was published on 8 May 2001 (Commission
Regulation (EC) No 896/2001 of 7 May 2001 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation
(EEC) No 404/93 as regards the arrangements for importing bananas into the Community (1)). This
Regulation must apply from 1 July 2001 as required by Council Regulation (EC) No 216/2001 of
29 January 2001 amending Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 on the common organisation of the market in
bananas (2). Therefore, following the Understandings with the United States and Ecuador it was necessary
to act quickly since it was important that companies were aware of the new requirements in advance of
the July 2001 application date. In addition, the Commission has had continual contacts with the banana
industry on the new regime.

In the process of developing the Understandings the Commission has taken into account the necessity to
maintain an equilibrium in the market particularly between traditional operators and non-traditional
operators. It is for this reason that 17 % of the quota is reserved for non-traditional operators.

(1) OJ L 126, 8.5.2001.
(2) OJ L 31, 2.2.2001.