WRITTEN QUESTION E-2078/02 by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission. Expenditure on medical checks for staff members exposed to radiation.
Date: 2002-07-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community budget, European Commission, ionising radiation, medical examination, nuclear power station, nuclear safety, occupational health, servant (EU)

17.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 92 E/133

Is it intended that such a force would have its own organisation, structure and uniform, chain of command
and jurisdiction? To whom would it be responsible and what steps are now proposed, including timeframe,
in order to take this matter forward?

Is it foreseen that the force would only operate in Member States that are parties to the Schengen
arrangements? In particular, given that the United Kingdom is outside the Schengen arrangements, can the
Council confirm that no elements of this force would be deployed on the territory of the United Kingdom?

Reply

(19 December 2002)

the external borders of

The Honourable Member is informed that the European Council in Seville welcomed various initiatives
with regard to the management of
in particular the
Commission’s communication entitled ‘Towards integrated management of the external borders of the
Member States of the European Union’, the feasibility study carried out under Italy’s leadership concerning
the establishment of a European border police,
the intention expressed by the
Commission to continue examining the advisability and feasibility of such a police force, and the study
concerning ‘police and border security’, carried out by Austria, Belgium and Finland under the OISIN
cooperation programme.

the European Union,

taking account of

The Council
responsibilities of a possible European border police.

is not in a position at present to comment on the organisation, structure,

tasks and

It would, however, like to draw the attention of the Honourable Member to the plan for the management
of the external borders of the Member States of the European Union, which was adopted by the Council at
its meeting on 13 June 2002 and applauded by the European Council in Seville. This plan contains a
chapter on a European Border Guard where it is pointed out that the ‘integrated management of the
external borders is a dynamic process to be developed in stages. On the basis of the experience of this
gradual development, further institutional steps could be considered, if appropriate, following an in-depth
legal study addressing the question of the legal basis and identifying the instruments which would be
necessary. Such steps could include a possible decision on the setting up of a European Corps of Border
Guards, composed of joint teams, which would have the function of supporting the national services of
the Member States, but not replacing them’.

In the context of such a study, the implications of the fact that the United Kingdom and Ireland do not
participate in the provisions of the Schengen ‘acquis’ concerning the abolition of checks at internal borders
and movement of persons will have to be properly addressed.

(2003/C 92 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2078/02

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 July 2002)

Subject: Expenditure on medical checks for staff members exposed to radiation

The Commission sets aside approximately EUR 800 000 each year under budget item A-142 for medical
checks for staff members who are exposed to radiation.

Are these staff members who work in the vicinity of a radiation source or staff members who are

1.
actively exposed to radiation?

How many staff members are involved? Can the Commission give a breakdown of the costs incurred

2.
under this budget item?

C 92 E/134

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.4.2003

3.

Does the Commission consider it acceptable that staff members should be exposed to radiation?

4.
The amount budgeted for by the Commission remains at approximately the same level each year,
with slight variations. Why does the Commission not take steps to limit the number of staff members who
are exposed to radiation?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(24 September 2002)

1.
Three Directorates General (DG) of the Commission employ staff who are, or can be, regularly
exposed to radiation sources: DG Transport and Energy, DG Environment, and the Joint Research Centre
(JRC). The Directorate for Nuclear Inspections of DG Transport and Energy carries out inspections in
accordance with Chapter VII of the Euratom Treaty in all civil nuclear installations of the Community. Staff
of the radiation protection unit of DG Environment has also a right of access to nuclear installations under
Chapter III of the Euratom Treaty and carries out verifications under Article 35 of the EC Treaty. Because
the current frequency of verification is very low, the small number of dedicated inspectors are included in
the radiological protection arrangements of the Directorate of Nuclear Inspections. The JRC carries out
nuclear activities in accordance with the research framework programmes of the European Atomic Energy
Community. In all these cases, Commission staff may be exposed to radiation either by being present in
areas where radiation sources exist or where they have to handle such sources themselves.

There are approximately 700 Commission staff involved (about 250 nuclear inspectors and about

2.
450 JRC staff). The cost breakdown is as follows:

doctors

technical equipment

radiation analysis

missions’ expenses

(in euros)

95 000

156 000

315 000

228 000

Total item A-142

794 000

3.
The Commission has to fulfil the obligations of the Euratom Treaty, in particular Chapter VII and the
Euratom Research and Technological Development (RTD) specific programmes (JRC). Under the provisions
of Chapter VII, for example, the Commission services and in particular the Euratom Safeguards Office
inspect civil nuclear installations in the Community. Moreover, within the Euratom research programme,
research is carried out to improve nuclear safety and waste management and to develop new techniques
and methods to control nuclear materials. This means that Commission staff may be exposed to ionising
radiation. The Commission plays an active role in promoting harmonised rules and standards for the
protection of the health of these workers (cf. Directive 96/29/ Euratom (1)). The Commission also pays
careful attention to the application of these standards to its own staff and considers that its staff fully
deserves the necessary protection and relevant expenditure.

The number of staff

4.
involved in nuclear safeguards inspections is based on the inspection
requirements as laid down by the Commission in line with the provisions of Chapter VII of the Euratom
Treaty. In this context, it should be noted that the radiation protection measures are a legal requirement
for entering and working in the nuclear facilities inspected. The activities in this field of the Joint Research
Centre concentrate on research for nuclear safeguards, nuclear safety and waste management with a slight
reduction of staff. However, the decommissioning of nuclear facilities is requiring an increasing staff
involvement. Therefore, the total number of JRC staff involved in both activities needs to remain constant
for the time being.

(1) Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 laying down basic safety standards for the protection of the
health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation, OJ L 159, 29.6.1996.