WRITTEN QUESTION E-3316/02 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Nuclear energy and energy from renewable sources.
Date: 2002-11-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU publication, European Commissioner, energy supply, nuclear energy, renewable energy, security of supply, self-sufficiency in energy, speech, water

12.6.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 137 E/191

(2003/C 137 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3308/02

by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission

(21 November 2002)

Subject: Speech by Commissioner Bolkestein (Speech/02/543)

In London on 7 November 2002 Commissioner Bolkestein gave a speech entitled ‘Nuclear energy needed
more than ever’.

1.

Is the Commission aware of the content of that speech?

2.
In the speech, was Mr Bolkestein putting the Commission’s position? If the position put in the speech
is not congruent with the Commission’s, how will the Commission guarantee that such impressions cannot
be created in future?

3.
How do the comments on water liberalisation in the speech square with the Commission’s answer to
the written question of 19 September 2000 (E-2938/00) (1) by Mrs Oomen-Ruijten, MEP, in which the
Commission clearly rules out liberalisation of the water sector at European level?

4. Mr Bolkestein places the Commission decisions of 6 November 2002 on nuclear safety and
radioactive-waste treatment in the context of expansion of nuclear energy. Is nuclear energy expansion
what is intended by the decisions of 6 November 2002? On what grounds has the Commission adopted
that position?

(1) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001, p. 136.

(2003/C 137 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3316/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(22 November 2002)

Subject: Nuclear energy and energy from renewable sources

On 7 November 2002 at the Institute of Economic Affairs in London, Commissioner Bolkestein made an
impassioned case for stepping up the use of nuclear energy, putting forward a number of arguments in the
process (‘Nuclear energy needed more than ever’).

In his speech, the Commissioner took no account whatever of the possibility of using energy from
renewable sources.

Can the Commission say what is the most environment-friendly type of energy (cid:1) nuclear, or renewables
such as hydro, wind or solar (cid:1) in terms of waste substances, health risks in the event of accidents, etc.?

Can the Commission say, for instance, what measures it proposes to take to assist whichever of the two
types is more environment-friendly, in its view, and to disadvantage the one which, in its view, is less
environment-friendly?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3308/02 and E-3316/02
given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 2003)

As Member of the Commission with responsibility for the internal market, Commissioner Bolkestein is
fully entitled to participate in discussions on the future of the European economy in general including
latest
invited
trends in the utility markets. The London based Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA)
Commissioner Bolkestein to give his views on these issues in a speech on 7 November 2002.

C 137 E/192

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

12.6.2003

the
The Commissioner raised among other issues the security of energy supplies the subject of
Commission Green Paper (1) ‘Towards a European strategy for the security of energy supply’. The Green
Paper focused on the Union’s structural weakness regarding energy supply and it set out a series of
questions for discussion. Commissioner Bolkestein pointed out several trends already observed in the
Green Paper, such as the increase of energy dependence from 50 percent now to 70 percent in 2030 if no
measures are taken. In his speech to the IEA he also referred to renewable energy resources which still
cover only a small part of the Union’s energy needs.

The Green Paper opened a debate on the Union’s approach to energy supply. Commissioner Bolkestein’s
speech pointed out various elements which are relevant to the debate on nuclear energy, such as the
negligible greenhouse gases emissions which nuclear power produces. It also identified a number of
problems which still have to be solved.

On the basis of the discussion stimulated by the Green Paper, in which the Parliament took an active and
constructive part, the Commission has proposed a series of measures to improve the security of energy
supply in the Union whilst taking into account environmental aspects. These proposals include measures
to stimulate the use of renewables in electricity (the Renewable Electricity Directive adopted in 2001) (2),
to raise the share of biofuels in the transport sector, to promote combined heat and power and to improve
the energy performance of buildings (Directive on the energy performance of buildings adopted in
November 2002) (3), as well as the proposed programme Intelligent Energy for Europe.

In addition, the Commission adopted the 6 November 2002 a package of measures, based on the Euratom
Treaty, with a view to producing a comprehensive community approach to nuclear safety and security of
supply including possible instruments for increased Euratom lendings. These proposals cover the safety of
nuclear installations during operation and decommissioning, management of radioactive waste, and trade
in nuclear materials with Russia. The same day, the Commission adopted also two proposals in the field of
Euratom loans in order to increase the borrowing limit and to ensure the continuing availability of
Euratom loans in particular for nuclear safety and decommissioning projects in candidate and other non-
member countries.

Commissioner Bolkestein gave his view on the utility markets in general, of which the water sector is a
part. He pointed out various instruments available to establish a correct relationship between price, quality
and the standard of the service provided. In this context, he referred to a recent paper of the British
government on its future water policy ‘Directing the Flow’.

Commissioner Bolkestein’s speech was limited to sketching out recent developments in the water sector of
various Member States, including the role of private operators.

(1) COM(2000) 769 final.
(2) Directive 2001/C of the Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 on the promotion of electricity

produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market, OJ L 283, 27.10.2001.

(3) COM(2001) 226 final.

(2003/C 137 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3312/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 November 2002)

Subject: Community funding for Cross-Border Public Health Centres in Greece

At a time when infectious diseases (mainly tuberculosis and viral hepatitis) are spreading in Greece, its four
Community-funded ‘Cross-Border Public Health Centres’, which could provide initial check-ups and
medical care for the numerous incoming economic migrants suffering from such infectious diseases,
are inoperative.