WRITTEN QUESTION E-0953/02 by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Accidents at Sellafield.
Date: 2002-04-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Scotland, competence of the Member States, nuclear accident, nuclear reactor, nuclear safety, statistics

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/163

and swine (cid:8) health requirements), 2001/32/EC (organisms harmful to plants), 2001/33/EC (organisms
harmful to plants), 2001/64/EC (fodder plant seed and cereal seed) and 2001/79/EC (evaluation of
additives in animal feed), the infringement procedure has been launched but has not yet gone before the
Court.

The Court also found in two rulings that Greece had only partially transposed Directive 85/73/EEC
(veterinary fees). The Commission has also initiated infringement procedures for improper application of
Directives 91/628/EEC (transport of animals) and 93/119/EC (protection of animals at the time of
slaughter).

In addition it should be noted that, in order to ensure a better application of Community legislation, the
Commission monitors closely the follow up by Greece to the recommendations made in the reports on
inspections carried out by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO).

In this context, the Member of the Commission responsible for Health and Consumer Protection has met
the Greek Minister for Agriculture on two occasions in the past year to review the situation and to urge
the Greek authorities to correct without delay the deficiencies in control systems identified in Food and
Veterinary Office (FVO) reports. The Director General for Health and Consumer Protection also recently
visited Athens to meet the General Director of the Ministry of Agriculture and the State Secretary of the
Ministry for Development to review what should be done to improve food safety and animal health
control systems in Greece. The Greek authorities committed themselves to addressing all outstanding issues
as a matter of priority and to keeping the Commission informed with regular updates.

(2002/C 229 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0953/02

by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(10 April 2002)

Subject: Accidents at Sellafield

On 8 February 2002 another serious accident occurred at
the Sellafield complex necessitating the
temporary shutdown of one of the nuclear reactors. In December 2001 six nuclear reactors, including four
at the Sellafield complex, were shut down after a malfunction within a reactor in Scotland.

How many times in the last five years have security concerns forced the shutdown of reactors in Sellafield,
for what reason, and on what dates; and what information was received by the Commission on each
incident?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2002)

The Commission is regularly informed of matters concerning nuclear safety in the Member States and the
candidate countries.
the Euratom Treaty the Commission has
responsibilities in the field of radiation protection.

In addition, under Chapter

III of

However, it would point out that the design and construction of nuclear power stations falls within the
sphere of responsibility of the Member States, and that the proper functioning of nuclear installations is
primarily the responsibility of nuclear operators under the supervision of the national safety authorities.
Therefore, the Commission receives no information whether security concerns forced the shutdown of a
reactor, as long as there is no radioactive release outside the plant.

It should also be pointed out that, as already announced to the European Parliament’s Industry, External
Trade, Research and Energy Committee, the Commission intends to submit a proposal, following on from
the conclusions of the Laeken European Council (14 and 15 December 2001), formalising a Community
approach to nuclear safety in the form of common standards and European control mechanisms.