WRITTEN QUESTION No. 372/98 by Nuala AHERN to the Council. Shipment of high-level radioactive waste from the COGEMA plant at La Hague
2. 10. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 304/89 (98/C 304/133) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0372/98 by Nuala Ahern (V) to the Council (19 February 1998) Subject: Shipment of high-level radioactive waste from the COGEMA plant at La Hague What representations has the Presidency received regarding safety concerns about the shipment of high-level radioactive waste from the COGEMA plant at La Hague, via the port of Cherbourg to Japan through the Panama Canal, which is scheduled to begin in January 1998? Answer (18 May 1998) The Council has no knowledge of specific representations regarding safety concerns about the shipment of 1. radioactive waste from the nuclear plant at La Hague. The Council would like to remind the Honourable Member of Parliament that safety concerns about the 2. shipment of radioactive waste are dealt with by various acts of Community legislation. 3. Directive 96/29/Euratom, of 13 May 1996, laying down the basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation (1), provides a binding legal framework for health protection by laying down strict rules on maximum permitted levels of radiation for the whole population. 4. Directive 92/3/Euratom, of 3 February 1992, on the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste between Member States and into and out of the Community (2), deals specifically with the movement of radioactive waste by establishing a strict supervision system. In addition to that, the Member State concerned shall apply the regulations concerning the transport of 5. nuclear materials adopted in the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency. (1) OJ L 159, 29. 6. 1996, p. 1. (2) OJ L 35, 12. 2. 1992, p. 24. (98/C 304/134) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0373/98 by Nuala Ahern (V) to the Council (19 February 1998) Subject: Proposed action on threats posed by the Sellafield plant What steps is the British Presidency planning to take to respond positively to the concerns raised in the debate, following the statement by the President-in-Office ro Parliament on 14 January 1998, about the environmental, health and safety and other threats posed by the Sellafield plant? What consultations does the Presidency plan with the Irish Government over Sellafield during its term of office? Answer (18 May 1998) The Council is fully aware of the importance of environmental, health and safety issues concerning nuclear 1. plants. 2. In this respect, the Council would like to remind the Honourable Member of Parliament that Chapter III of the Euratom Treaty provides the legal framework for the protection of health and safety throughout the Community. In this context, Article 37 deals specifically with relations with other Member States