WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2528/97 by Marjo MATIKAINEN-KALLSTRÖM to the Commission. Safety of nuclear power stations in Ukraine
17. 3. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 82/101 (98/C 82/165) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2527/97 by Joan Vallve· (ELDR) to the Commission (24 July 1997) Subject: Renewed attacks on French farmers A lorry from Murcia was attacked near Marseilles by French farmers on 3 July 1997 › the latest in a series of acts of vandalism against lorries transporting Spanish fruit and vegetables. The French farmers threw the goods (pears, nectarines and peaches) out of the lorry after taking part in violent protests against Spanish exports of fruit and vegetables. Given that the situation has flared up once more, does the Commission intend to take stricter measures to guarantee the free movement of goods and ensure fair competition between fruit and vegetable producers? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (5 September 1997) The Commission firmly condemns this fresh attack on the principle of the free movement of goods. As the Commission has stated on numerous occasions, it is for the French authorities to take the public order measures necessary to prevent such exactions and an escalation of violence. In the light of these acts, which have been repeated for too many years, the Commission has taken legal action against France in the Court of Justice for failure to fulfil its obligations. The case (C- 265/95) was heard on 10 June 1997. On 9 July 1997, delivering an Opinion favourable to the arguments put forward by the Commission, the Advocate General stated: Accordingly, I propose that the Court should hold that, by failing to take all necessary and proportionate measures to prevent the actions of individuals from hindering the free movement of fruit and vegetables, the French Republic has failed to fulfil the obligations arising from the common organizations of the market in agricultural products and from Article 30 of the EC Treaty in conjunction with Article 5 thereof á. Pending the Court’s final judgment, the Commission has urged the French authorities to take the preventive and repressive measures necessary to avoid a repetition of such incidents. (98/C 82/166) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2528/97 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstro¤m (PPE) to the Commission (24 July 1997) Subject: Safety of nuclear power stations in Ukraine Apart from the Chernobyl plant, there are at present two nuclear power stations in Ukraine, which have not yet been completed. However, the Ukrainians intend to build these two reactors, although without Western technical aid and funding there is no chance of their achieving adequate safety standards. Ukraineís geopolitical situation is particularly difficult, since the Ukrainians do not want to buy more expensive electricity from Russia and thus increase their dependency on their neighbouring country. However, the conditions in winter in Ukraine are very severe, and it is essential to obtain electricity for heating. How does the Commission propose to ensure that Ukrainian nuclear power stations are adequate to meet Western safety standards, and what measures will it take to ensure that the Chernobyl plant is closed?