WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1733/98 by Joaquim MIRANDA , Honório NOVO to the Council. Construction of a nuclear waste site in Aldeadávila, Spain
18. 1. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 13/73 Reply (24 September 1998) The Council notes with satisfaction the considerable efforts already made by Member States on the issue of subsidies for pro-European associations. As regards the possibility, to which the Honourable Member refers, of Member States introducing áfixed financing arrangementsí for such associations, it is not for the Council, but for the Member States themselves, to deal with this matter. (1999/C 13/105) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1733/98 by Joaquim Miranda (GUE/NGL) and Honório Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Council (8 June 1998) Subject: Construction of a nuclear waste site in AldeadÆvila, Spain The Spanish Government recently put a proposal to the Senate on setting up a commission to look into the possibility of building a nuclear waste site in the `vila de la Ribera area. This proposal, like previous projects along similar lines, caused a public outcry. There is no doubt that building this dumping ground for nuclear waste would be a highly dangerous undertaking, given that the proposed site lies in an area rich in granite, pose a grave danger to public health and the environment, place the regional economy at serious risk, and contravene international standards, given that the site is less than one hundred kilometres from the border between Spain and Portugal. Can the Council say what stance it intends to take on this matter, given that it warrants urgent attention? Reply (24 September 1998) Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (1) applies in the case of installations designed exclusively to store radioactive waste permanently or to eliminate it definitively. Pursuant to Article 4(1) thereof, this type of installation must in principle be the subject of an environmental impact study. In addition, Article 7 provides for consultation procedures where a project of this kind is likely to have significant effects on the environment of another Member State, either on the initiative of the Member State undertaking the project or at the request of the other Member State. Moreover, Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty stipulates that each Member State must provide the Commission which must deliver its opinion within six months, with such general data relating to any plan for the disposal of radioactive waste in whatever form as will make it possible to determine whether the implementation of such plan is liable to result in the radioactive contamination of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State. The Council considers that the proper application of Community legislation should enable the environmental and health rules in force to be observed in relation to the project referred to by the Honourable Members. (1) OJ L 175, 5. 7. 1985, p. 40