WRITTEN QUESTION E-2611/01 by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission. Sellafield and radioactivity.
Date: 2001-09-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, environmental protection, international agreement, marine pollution, nuclear power station, radioactive effluent

C 134 E/58

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

Moreover, this new Community legislation would go further than the Montreal Convention in protecting
passengers. The Montreal Convention, like that of Warsaw, is limited to international carriage. Community
legislation, both Regulation 2027/97 and the new regulation, also cover domestic traffic within Member
States. This gives the citizens of the Community a degree of legal protection enjoyed by few others.

The Parliament has approved the proposal for a new regulation subject to amendments at its first reading
and the Council has reached a political agreement on a common position. The regulation is expected
rapidly to be adopted.

(1) OJ L 285, 17.10.1997.
(2) OJ C 337 E, 28.11.2000.

(2002/C 134 E/057)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2611/01

by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission

(27 September 2001)

Subject: Sellafield and radioactivity

Measurements have shown increasing radioactivity levels in the Barents Sea, around the Kola peninsula and
Spitsbergen originating in the nuclear processing plant at Sellafield in the United Kingdom. The British are
supposed to be reducing discharges of the radioactive substance technetium-99, but only intend to reduce
discharges from Sellafield by 80 % in 2006.

What does the Commission intend to do to insist on respect for the present agreement with the British
authorities on a reduction of radioactive discharges? Will the Commission also give a general assessment of
the risks arising from the release of technetium-99 and other substances from Sellafield?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(13 November 2001)

In signing the Oslo-Paris (OSPAR) Sintra Statement of 23 July 1998, the Contracting Parties, including the
United Kingdom, emphasised their commitment to a number of aims of OSPAR set out in that statement,
including those relating to radioactive discharges. The Sintra Statement noted the concerns expressed by a
number of OSPAR Contracting Parties about the recent increase in technetium discharges from Sellafield at
that time and their view that these discharges should cease. The Statement further noted British Ministers’
commitment
in the forthcoming decisions concerning the discharge
authorisations from Sellafield.

such concerns

to address

At that time the contracting Parties adopted a Strategy for the purpose of directing future work of the
OSPAR Commission with regard to radioactive substances. The responsibility for assessing the effectiveness
of measures in that strategy, and progress made by Contracting Parties in meeting commitments, rests with
the OSPAR Commission by quinquennial review and, if necessary, modification of the strategy.

The Commission is committed to participating in the work of OSPAR at a number of levels and in respect
of radioactive substances is undertaking a study for the update of the Marína Project into the radiological
exposure from radioactivity in North European marine waters. This work is referred to in the OSPAR
Strategy with regard to Radioactive Substances and the Commission took account of the views of OSPAR,
regarding the scope and nature of the study, before commencing the work. The Study is due to be
published in the later part of 2002, with an interim report being made to OSPAR in early 2002. This
study will provide, amongst other information, an up-to-date assessment of the impact of releases of
technetium-99 from Sellafield on humans and biota.