Commission needs accord on nuclear safety standards
The European Commission should seek an accord on nuclear safety standards and regulations for the construction and operation of nuclear power stations, the fuel cycle and the transport conditions with the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEEC) and the New Independent States (NIS). This is one of the demands set out by the European Parliament Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy during a Committee meeting on the 23 February. The demands endorsed the report drafted by British MEP Gordon Adam, in connection with the Commission Communication on nuclear sector-related activities for the CEEC and NIS. Behind the issues is the Special Report No 25/98 of the Court of Auditors. During a meeting in November last year, the Plenary was shocked to hear from the President of the Court of Auditors that only 300 million euro had been spent so far for support for nuclear safety in Central and Eastern Europe, although the European Union (EU) has earmarked 850m euro for that purpose between 1990 and 1997. The Court of Auditors further stressed that, at the end of 1997, it was not possible to judge whether there had been any actual progress in terms of nuclear safety. The Research Committee further demanded that the Commission should agree an energy strategy for each of the CEEC and the NIS under the partnership and cooperation agreement with these countries. The accession negotiations with the CEEC should ensure that nuclear safety is guaranteed, according the Research Committee. The enlargement of the EU must under no circumstances compromise nuclear safety, which is a priority of "Agenda 2000", whereas compliance with its requirements is part of the acquis communautarie. The Research Committee would like the Commission to draw up a comprehensive report responding in full to the criticism and questions set out in the Special Report. The Commission is also called to prepare for Parliament a bi-annual report on work in progress by means of Community programmes, assistance by Member States, contribution of European industry and the Nuclear Safety Account handled by the EBRD. The Committee welcomes the formation of the Western European Regulators Association and its contribution to a definition of nuclear safety standards for the EU. It also welcomes the creation of independent authorities to ensure compliance with these standards in the candidate countries. Finally, the Committee underlined the importance of giving additional support to national regulatory authorities in the CEEC and NIS by means of the PHARE and TACIS programmes, provided that these authorities are legally independent and implement a real culture of independence.