WRITTEN QUESTION E-2121/02 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE)and Gordon Adam (PSE) to the Commission. Kozloduj nuclear power plant.
Date: 2002-07-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Bulgaria, International Atomic Energy Agency, decommissioning of power stations, nuclear power station, nuclear safety

C 242 E/6

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

9.10.2003

I understand that mental health patients in Hungary are subject to some appalling conditions, such as
confinement to what are known as ‘cage beds’. In addition, the use of ‘guardians’, whereby a person is
arbitrarily appointed trustee of another person, is questionable on human rights grounds. Indeed, such
guardians wield a significant and disproportionate amount of power in that they are able to commit their
trustees to a mental institution.

Whether Hungary currently breaches the ECHR is a moot point, and this is a separate issue from its
eligibility to accede to the EU. However, the EU is based on the principle of respect for human rights and
such controversial practices should not go unchecked since they could undermine the principles upon
which the EU is founded.

Is the Commission aware of these practices, and what does it intend to do to resolve this situation?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(2 August 2002)

The political criteria for accession, as laid down by the Copenhagen European Council in June 1993 and
which have to be met by the candidate countries, are monitored by the Commission through its Regular
Reports on candidate countries’ progress towards accession. Assessment of respect for the political criteria,
of which respect for human rights forms part, is carried out by the Commission on the basis of the
broadest possible array of sources. This includes, besides information provided by each candidate country
concerned, also contributions by, and exchanges with, relevant international organisations, such as the
Council of Europe and the relevant United Nations (UN) bodies, and with non-governmental organisations.

Until now, neither the report of the Ombudsman for civil and political rights nor the UN Human Rights
Committee (UNHCHR) have made explicit reference to the treatment of patients in psychiatric hospitals.
However, the UN Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) had raised in its 1999 report concerns
about the situation in psychiatric hospitals in Hungary. Since then, the Hungarian Government has
undertaken a number of measures (conduct of a nation-wide survey, publication of a circular prohibiting
the use of caged beds in psychiatric hospitals) including the consolidation of the legal framework to
remedy the situation. The provisions of the Health Care Act relating to psychiatric patients have since
2001 prohibited any torturous, cruel,
inhumane, degrading or punitive measures. There is also the
possibility for legal remedies and regular reviews by outside professional experts.

The Commission is following developments in this area in the context of its preparations for the upcoming
2002 Regular Report.

(2003/C 242 E/011)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2121/02

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE)
and Gordon Adam (PSE) to the Commission

(17 July 2002)

Subject: Kozloduj nuclear power plant

We refer to the view of the European Parliament as expressed in a motion for a resolution on the
accession process, adopted in June 2002, concerning the open-minded approach that should be adopted in
reaching agreement on the future of the two nuclear units 3 and 4 at Kozloduj in Bulgaria.

Given the substantial upgrading which has been done to the plants and which, according to the IAEA,
address all the original safety concerns, and given the existence of an independent and professionally
staffed nuclear regulator in Bulgaria, could the Commission explain the technical basis for demanding
closure of these plants as a condition for Bulgarian accession to the EU?

If any uncertainty remains concerning this issue, would not the Commission consider it appropriate to ask
WENRA to revisit the plants and offer a further independent opinion?

9.10.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 242 E/7

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 2002)

The Commission has repeatedly emphasised the importance of a high level of nuclear safety in all
candidate countries.

With regard to units 3 and 4 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), in an Understanding reached in
1999, Bulgaria committed to the early final closure of units 3 and 4 before the initially envisaged dates of
2008-2010, respectively.

Within the context of the accession negotiations on chapter 14 (energy) and noting Bulgaria’s commitment
in the Understanding, Member States have invited Bulgaria to set in 2002 a firm date for the final closure
of units 3 and 4 that is to be no later than 2006. This Union position has, with regard to the closure issue,
taken precedence over the 1999 Understanding signed with the Commission. It is now up to Bulgaria to
state its position within the framework of the accession negotiations.

Against this background, the resolution of the Parliament to which the Honourable Members refer is
substantially directed at the Member States who have determined the Union’s position on the closure dates.

With regard to safety improvements, the Commission is informed that, following its recent mission to
Bulgaria, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been preparing a report on the measures
taken by the Kozloduy NPP. The IAEA was expected to make its conclusions available to Bulgaria at the
end of August 2002. The Commission will therefore only be in a position to comment on this report once
the Bulgarian authorities have released it into the public domain.

The Commission recognises that improvements on the operational safety of units 3 and 4 have been made
and notes the reinforcement of the nuclear safety authority in Bulgaria. These safety improvements were
partially funded with Community assistance from the Phare financial
the
Commission points out that units 3 and 4 of the Kozloduy NPP continue to harbour a number of
deviations from safety requirements due to their original design.

instrument. However,

Given the position of the Union in the framework of the accession negotiations, the Commission sees no
merit in addressing the Western European Nuclear Regulation Association (WENRA), particularly whilst
awaiting the pending IAEA report. Furthermore, the Commission notes that the Peer Review Status Report
of the Council of June 2002 (1) recently reaffirmed the importance of Bulgaria’s commitment on the
definitive closure of units 1 to 4 of the Kozloduy NPP at the earliest possible dates and recalled the Union’s
understanding that the closure of units 3 and 4 will take place in 2006 at the latest.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/negotiations/chapters/chap14/index.htm.

(2003/C 242 E/012)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2131/02

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Antenna in Akrotiri nature conservation area, Cyprus

(17 July 2002)

On 1 July 2002, the British military authorities in Cyprus began to instal a new antenna in one of the
ecologically most important parts of the island, the area around the Akrotiri salt lake south-west of
Limassol. The new installation forms part of a network of antennas managed by the British Army.

This curtain array antenna will be 196 metres wide and will rear up 100 metres from the ground in the
landscape of an area renowned for its unique birdlife and bird migration routes. The antenna will have a
power rating of 500 kW and will operate continuously on a frequency of 3-30 mHz.