WRITTEN QUESTION E-1174/03 by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Nuclear safety at military sites in the UK and other Member States.
Date: 2003-04-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, United Kingdom, health risk, ionising radiation, military base, nuclear safety, public health, radiation protection, standard

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/163

management plan and the programmes of measures to be developed for the river Ebro under the Water
Framework Directive.

(1) Written answer of 17.12.02.
(2) Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for

Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 237, 22.12.2000.

(2004/C 11 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1173/03

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: Institutional framework envisaged by Europe for jointly funded projects

In recent weeks road networks in Greece have been damaged by landslides, subsidence and fissuring, etc.
Despite the progress achieved in recent years by Greece regarding EU-funded public works projects, they
are still bedevilled on a regular basis by poor workmanship, delays, overspending, supplementary contracts,
the absence of any organisation formally responsible for carrying out surveys, etc.

What view does the Commission take of this and what are its recommendations? What action is it taking
to establish an institutional framework at European level so as to shed a clearer light on the awarding of
contracts and execution of projects with a view to achieving good standards of workmanship and
compliance with deadlines and estimates in respect of projects jointly funded by the EU?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member’s concern over the need for a European level institutional
framework guaranteeing transparency in the assignment of contracts to carry out work. Such a framework
already exists in the form notably of Council Directive 93/37/EEC of 14 June 1993 concerning the
coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts (1), which has already been correctly
transposed into Greek law.

Under the above legislation the Member States themselves are responsible for the work they carry out.

The Commission considered that it could not ignore the structural weaknesses the Greek public works
domain. In the context of the second Community support framework the Greek authorities agreed with it
on the need for reform targeted on improving the quality of technical planning and construction work
itself and on execution of work within the contracted cost and time frameworks. This reform is to
continue in the context of the third Community support framework.

(1) OJ L 199, 9.8.1993.

(2004/C 11 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1174/03

by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: Nuclear safety at military sites in the UK and other Member States

The UK has implemented Euratom Basic Safety Standards (BSS) Directive (96/29/Euratom (1)) with the
Radiological Emergency Public Preparedness Information Regulations (Reppir).

C 11 E/164

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

Can the Commission confirm that the Euratom Basic Safety Standards (BSS) Directive (96/29/Euratom)
covers all licensed and unlicensed nuclear sites in case of a nuclear accident, including military sites?

Is the Commission aware that the UK’s military sites do not comply with the Euratom Basic Safety
Standards (BSS) Directive (96/29/Euratom), as the Ministry of Defence has refused to disclose the required
data on which to base a safety plan?

Does EU law allow for an opt-out for military sites, including for visiting forces (as defined by the UK’s
Visiting Forces Act 1952) and, given the large number of military sites that contain nuclear material both
in the UK and in other Member States, what are the Commission’s plans to ensure that nuclear safety
legislation applies to all sites?

(1) OJ L 159, 29.6.1996, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2003)

1.
Under Article 2(1) of Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 laying down basic safety
standards for the health protection of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from
ionising radiation, this Directive applies to all practices ‘which involve a risk from ionizing radiation
emanating from an artificial source or from a natural radiation source in cases where natural radionuclides
are or have been processed in view of their radioactive fissile or fertile properties’.

2.
The Commission considers that the protection of the health and the safety of the public in the field
of radiation protection is an indivisible objective and extends to all dangers arising from ionising radiation,
irrespective of their source.

3.
No provision of Directive 96/29/Euratom obliges Member States to disclose the required data on
which to base a safety plan, the provision of such information being not necessary for the purpose of
implementing an emergency plan.

(2004/C 11 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1184/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: Community aid

The management of companies belonging to the group of Fabolin (cid:1) Linhas, Cetins e Têxteis Lar, Ltd
(Fabolin, Rustilinho and Nobrylinho), based in Vila Verde in the district of Braga, Portugal, is illegally
dismissing employees, including four pregnant women. It should be noted that this enterprise has achieved
a certain notoriety through its use of clandestine and child workers.

Employees assume that the enterprise has received Community aid for the construction of the new
building and employment aid, notably between 1990 and 1995.

Will the Commission say what it knows about possible Community aid for this group and what measures
are to be taken to protect employees’ rights?