WRITTEN QUESTION E-2363/01 by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Storage of nuclear waste from EU Member States in Russia.
Date: 2001-08-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Union, Russia, cross-border transport, nuclear safety, originating product, radioactive waste, storage, transport of dangerous goods

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/121

(2002/C 93 E/142)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2363/01

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 August 2001)

Subject: Storage of nuclear waste from EU Member States in Russia

Can the Commission confirm that the Russian Federation has made it possible, through a special law
adopted by the Duma on 6 June, to store nuclear waste from Member States of the European Union?

What is its position on this issue?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(24 October 2001)

The changes to the Russian law adopted by the Duma on 6 June 2001 relax the law of 1991 on
protection of the natural environment (Article 50.3) that states ‘The importation of radioactive waste and
materials for the purpose of storage or dumping from other States … shall be prohibited’ to allow the
importation of spent nuclear fuel for ‘technical storage’ and reprocessing.

The precise modalities for such imports would be subject to specific agreements to be negotiated between
the Russian Federation and interested countries. These agreements would as necessary cover the timing of
reprocessing and the return of the products of reprocessing.

The changes to the law have been made with the objective of raising revenue for the Russian Federation.
The stated intention is to use an important part of the revenue raised 5 around 70 % 5 to rehabilitate
areas contaminated by previous poor practices in the management of radioactive material.

Under Euratom legislation, exports would have to be authorised by the Commission. To that effect, 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. If the contract would only be
for reprocessing, the Commission has to be informed in order to verify that all the obligations assumed
with regard to the material concerned are complied with.

there is Community legislation that covers the shipment

As regards radioactive waste,
from the
Community to a third country (1). This clearly states that a Member State shall not authorise shipments
legal or administrative resources to manage the
to a third country that ‘does not have the technical,
radioactive waste safely’. This legislation does not cover spent fuel sent for reprocessing (unless that fuel is
defined as waste by the Member State). However, the Joint Convention on the safety of spent fuel
management and the safety of radioactive waste management contains similar conditions covering both
spent fuel and waste. The Member States will have to comply with these above mentioned obligations. The
Commission will closely monitor their application.

(1) 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, OJ L 35, 12.2.1992.

(2002/C 93 E/143)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2369/01

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

Subject: Compliance with multiannual guidance programmes (MGP)

(8 August 2001)

In the statement he made to Parliament at its sitting of 5 July 2001 in Strasbourg, Commissioner Fischler
announced that proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Communities were being prepared
against certain Member States for failure to comply with MGP.