WRITTEN QUESTION P-0532/04 by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Nuclear submarines docked at Santo Stefano Island, Sardinia.
Date: 2004-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Sardinia, nuclear accident, nuclear safety, public safety, radioactive pollution, submarine

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/425

In consequence, no incompatibility with Article 12 of the Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 (5) could be seen
and therefore no payment interruption or repayment of funds is foreseen.

(1) 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.

(2) Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private

projects on the environment, OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(3) Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 amending Directive 85/337/EEC, OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
(4) Council Directive 76/464/EEC of 4 May 1976 on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into

the aquatic environment of the Community, OJ L 129, 18.5.1976.

(5) Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds.

(2004/C 84 E/0495)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0532/04

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: Nuclear submarines docked at Santo Stefano Island, Sardinia

US Navy nuclear submarines are docked at the base on Santo Stefano Island,
in the La Maddalena
archipelago, in Sardinia. Recently, an incident with potential radioactive effects was recorded. In Sardinia
and Corsica, several movements have been alerting the authorities to the potential danger of nuclear
pollution in the area.

Has the Italian Government informed the European Commission about the presence of nuclear submarines
at Santo Stefano Island, as required by Article 37 of the Euratom Directive on Crossborder Effects? If not,
what measures will the Commission take?

Does the Commission consider that Santo Stefano Island fulfils all
accommodation of nuclear submarines?

the conditions required for the

Under Directive 89/618/Euratom (1), Member States are required to ensure that the population likely to be
affected in the event of a radiological emergency is given information about the health-protection measures
applicable to it and about the action it should take in the event of such an emergency. Can the
Commission indicate where this obligation is being fulfilled by the Member State involved?

(1) OJ L 357, 7.12.1989, p. 31.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2004)

The Commission has received no information from the Italian government on the presence of nuclear
submarines at Santo Stefano Island.

Under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, each Member State must inform the Commission of any plan for
the disposal of radioactive waste which could result in the radioactive contamination of the water, soil or
airspace of another Member State.

Discharges under normal conditions due to the operation of the propulsion reactor of the miliary nuclear
submarine in question are the responsibility of the United States which is the State responsible for the
authorisation and operation of the submarine and its components, but is not subject to the provisions in
Article 37.

As regards emergency measures within the meaning of Council Directive 89/618/Euratom of 27 Nov-
ember 1989 on informing the general public about health protection measures to be applied and steps to

C 84 E/426

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

be taken in the event of a radiological emergency, the Commission takes the view that the Directive
applies equally to ionising radiation arising from the use of nuclear energy for miliary purposes, including
submarine propulsion reactors.

Italy has adopted measures transposing the abovementioned Directive which provide for ‘external
emergency’ plans for military port
the implementation and diffusion of which is the
responsibility of the provincial authority.

installations,

The Commission is currently assessing the conformity of the national legislation with the provisions in
Directive 89/618/Euratom, particularly with regard to public access to information on emergency
measures.

The Commission has received no complaints following the incident
in question, and according to
information provided by the Italian environmental protection authority (APAT), no indication of
radioactive contamination was found when monitoring the water and the air following the incident
described by the Honourable Member.

(2004/C 84 E/0496)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0535/04

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 February 2004)

Subject: Recognition of disability status across the European Union

In the interests of promoting the free movement of persons with disabilities such as blindness, can the
Commission advise on the current situation regarding the recognition of blindness and other disability
certification from one Member State in other parts of the Community?

What steps are being taken towards harmonising criteria, certification and categorisation of disability to
allow citizens moving between Member States to qualify for the same health and social welfare status
across the EU without undergoing further testing?

Answer given by Mr Dimas on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2004)

The decision concerning the definition of disability as well as the modalities for assessment and
certification (disability cards) are taken at national level. The situation is complicated by the fact that often
several definitions exist at national level, depending in which context the definition is used. There is no
general mutual recognition of certification/disability cards or a certain disability status entitling holders to
the various concessions available in Member States other than the one that issued the card.

It should nevertheless be mentioned that for individual purposes (access to special services, reductions for
travel or entry to cultural
issued in another Member State might be
recognised. Moreover, through the voluntary system of blue parking cards initiated by the Commission,
which gives entitlement to special parking concessions for those entitled under national rules, there is (cid:1) in
this particular case (cid:1) general mutual recognition of the blue parking cards issued in one Member State
and used in another.

sites, etc.) a document

The Commission has recently commissioned and published a study, ‘Definitions of Disability in Europe:
A comparative Analysis’ (1), that will be presented for discussion to the Member States at one of the next
meetings of the High Level Group Disability.

(1) The study can be downloaded from the following Website:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/index/7002_en.html