European NGOs support separation of Euratom and EU treaties
The Presidium of the European Convention has decided to drop its initial proposal to include the Euratom treaty in the future EU constitution. The decision to introduce an annex, stipulating a legal separation between the EU and Euratom, was made on 10 July. European NGOs have responded positively, saying that the decision underlines the growing opposition to the promotion of nuclear energy via the Euratom treaty. 'This is a recognition that the Euratom treaty is so outdated and undemocratic that it has no place in a modern constitution,' said Mark Johnston of Friends of the Earth Europe. Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth believe that leaving the Euratom treaty out of the constitution will enable Member States to opt out of Euratom without having to leave the EU altogether. Environmentalists are hoping that politicians will consider a complete abolition of Euratom at the forthcoming intergovernmental conference (IGC) 'Retaining nuclear promotion in the primary law risks greater unpopularity of the EU amongst its citizens,' said Bridget Woodman of Greenpeace European Unit. A total budget of 1.23 billion euro has been allocated for Euratom activities under the Sixth Framework Programme, of which around 60 per cent will be used to fund research into thermonuclear fusion.