WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2904/97 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Toxic chemicals in foodstuffs
30. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 134/33 (98/C 134/39) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2903/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (17 September 1997) Subject: Supplies for the FRM II research reactor of highly-enriched uranium from Russia 1. Can the Commission confirm that the Euratom Supply Agency is negotiating with Russian organizations for the supply of highly-enriched uranium for European research reactors? Do those negotiations involve supplies for the controversial FRM II reactor in Munich? 2. What stage have the negotiations reached? What has been agreed, and which issues are still outstanding? By what date are the negotiations likely to be completed? Can the Commission confirm that the Euratom Supply Agency has drawn up the draft of an agreement for 3. supplies for the FRM II reactor of highly-enriched uranium from Russia? Does the Commission not have any misgivings that the involvement of the FRM II reactor will constitute a 4. severe blow to the campaign to prevent the non-proliferation of highly-enriched uranium? If not, why not? Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (3 December 1997) 1. and 2. As at November 1997 there are no formal negotiations taking place between the Russian authorities and the Euratom Supply Agency on supplying highly enriched uranium (HEU) for research reactors in the Community. 3. The Commission and the Euratom Supply Agency, in consultation with the Member States of the Community currently interested in using, producing or reprocessing HEU fuel, have developed a draft approach to be used in potential negotiations. This would provide the government of the Russian Federation with the assurances required under the multilateral non-proliferation regime of the Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT) and the London guidelines for nuclear transfers. This draft approach was developed for general application and is not plant-specific. The answer to the Honourable Member’s question is therefore no. 4. The transfer of highly enriched uranium to a Member State which does not have nuclear weapons and which is subject to the strictest safeguards, imposed both by Euratom and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), should not give rise to any fears in terms of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, particularly in view of the Member States’ excellent reputation in this field. Under the non-proliferation treaty (NPT) (Article IV. 2), all the parties to the treaty (which include the Russian Federation and all Member States of Euratom) undertake to facilitate and have the right to participate in the fullest possible exchange of equipment, materials and scientific and technical information for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The NPT does not contain any provision restricting those rights in the case of HEU. (98/C 134/40) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2904/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (17 September 1997) Subject: Toxic chemicals in foodstuffs To what extent can the Commission confirm whether and how cases of Multi-Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) 1. are scientifically documented in the Member States of the EU? 2. Has an increase in the number of allergies in the EU Member States been recorded? Has a survey been carried out to ascertain the number of sufferers from MCS and/or IEI (Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance)? Has the number of such cases increased?