WRITTEN QUESTION E-1429/02 by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Depleted uranium weapons.
Date: 2002-05-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, Western Balkans, firearms and munitions, health risk, military personnel, public health, uranium

6.3.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 52 E/71

(2003/C 52 E/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1429/02

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(23 May 2002)

Subject: Depleted uranium weapons

Over the last few days in Italy seven new cases have been confirmed of children with serious neurological
disorders born to Italian soldiers who had taken part in operations in Bosnia and Somalia. The same
symptoms were found in hundreds of children of US veterans who fought in the Gulf War.

According to numerous studies, the disorders are attributable to the coating of depleted uranium on some
NATO medium- and large-calibre shells, which are also used by Italian soldiers, as can be seen from an
Italian army internal communication dated 12 January 2001, which shows that uranium shells were
already being acquired as early as 1985.

A discussion of the so-called ‘Balkan syndrome’ took place at the January 2001 European Parliament part-
session in Strasbourg, during which both Javier Solana, High Representative for the CFSP, and the Swedish
minister Lars Danielsson, President-in-Office of the Council, announced that the issue was of top priority.

Is the Commission aware of the serious symptoms affecting numerous soldiers returning from

1.
operations in Bosnia?

Is the Commission in possession of the results of studies carried out into the effects on humans of

2.
depleted uranium weapons?

3.
Does the Commission not consider it necessary for an immediate ban to be imposed on such
weapons, which are still in use in military exercises and pose a serious health risk to military personnel?

Does the High Representative for the CFSP not consider NATO’s reluctance to provide information

4.
on the use of depleted uranium weapons as unacceptable?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2002)

The concerns raised by the use of depleted uranium in munitions during the conflicts in the Balkans were
analysed by the Group of Experts established under the Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty. Its Opinion,
issued on 6 March 2001, concluded that radiological exposure to depleted uranium did not result in a
detectable effect on human health.

Reports issued by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
(13 March 2001), the World
Health Organisation (WHO) (1 May 2002), and the British Royal Society (12 March 2002) arrived at
similar conclusions. The latter two reports also address the chemical toxicity of the uranium, concluding
that it is not expected that adverse effects on the kidney and any other organ would occur.

Much experience exists in the handling, storage and use of depleted uranium, which has never led to
demonstrated health effects for the workers.

The Commission has no legal competence to preclude the use of such munitions. Nor does it have
arguments based on scientific grounds which justify its advocating such a moratorium.

The Commission recommends that questions for the High Representative for Common Foreign and
Security Policy (CFSP) be addressed to him directly.