WRITTEN QUESTION E-0031/00 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council. Nuclear threat of Akkuyu.
3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/163 According to the Helsinki European Council conclusions, building on the existing European strategy, Turkey, like other candidate States, will benefit from a pre-accession strategy to stimulate and support its reforms. This will include enhanced political dialogue, with emphasis on progressing towards fulfilling the political criteria for accession with particular reference inter alia to the issue of human rights. In practice, in all the political dialogue meetings with the Turkish authorities at the level of Foreign Ministers and Political Directors the Council addresses human rights issues. (2000/C 280 E/185) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0030/00 by Marianne Eriksson (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Monitoring of the referendum in Western Sahara (19 January 2000) For more than seven years, the Sahrawi people have been waiting for news from the Moroccan authorities about a referendum on the future of Western Sahara. The Moroccan authorities have more than once broken agreements they had with Polisario regarding the date of the referendum. However, registration of those entitled to vote has now resumed, and a referendum campaign is being planned that is expected to be concluded on 31 July 2000, which is also the date on which the referendum is scheduled to take place. The risk of electoral fraud is great, and an international team of monitors needs to be sent in order to ensure that the referendum takes place in a democratic manner. Will the Commission assist in monitoring the referendum on the future of Western Sahara? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (14 February 2000) The Commission is keeping track of developments in the implementation of the plan adopted by the UN Security Council for the settlement of the Western Sahara conflict. The UN Secretary-Generalís efforts to find a just, equitable and lasting solution for the Western Sahara have its full support. It is therefore ready to provide assistance at every stage of the planned settlement. On the specific issue of the referendum, the Commission is aware that its organisation is threatened by problems with the finalisation of the electoral lists. As the UN Security Council pointed out in resolution 1282/99 of 14 December 1999, these problems á. seem to allow little possibility of holding the referendum before 2002 or even beyondí. (2000/C 280 E/186) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0031/00 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council (20 January 2000) Subject: Nuclear threat of Akkuyu Further to previous questions and ahead of Turkeyís final decision on the construction of a nuclear plant in the earthquake-prone region of Akkuyu, Canadian Federal MPs opposed to Canadaís intention to supply Turkey with nuclear reactors have made public the following further reasons for their position: ü the financial burden on Canada of a 1,5 billion dollar loan to Turkey, ü the possibility of Akkuyu developing into a second Chernobyl which will pose a serious threat to the lives of 144 million people in the eastern Mediterranean, ü the fundamental fear of providing Turkey with the means of manufacturing nuclear weapons through related technology, as occurred with India and Pakistan. C 280 E/164 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 the Earthquake Furthermore, recent studies by eminent seismologists, such as Karl Buckthought of Forecasts Incorporation, conclude that there is a 50 % probability of a Richter Scale 7 earthquake occurring within the next 40 years which will completely destroy the reactor with the loss of millions of human lives. In the light of the above and the new circumstances created by the recent disastrous earthquakes, in what manner will the Council intervene to enable Turkey to acquire the financial means to develop renewable energy sources and to call off the construction of the nuclear plant? Reply (16 March 2000) The Council is well aware of the importance of nuclear safety in third countries and has initiated a series of actions, in particular through assistance programmes. On 7 December 1998, the Council adopted conclusions on nuclear safety in the context of the enlargement of the European Union (1) which give a clear message to candidate countries on the importance to be given to nuclear safety. The Council shares the views of the Honourable Parliamentarian on the need to promote the development of renewable energy sources. In this context, it underlines that the promotion of renewable sources of energy in countries of the Mediterranean regions, including Turkey, is mainly ensured through cooperation within the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and its principal financial instrument, the MEDA Programme, and through the SYNERGY Programme, which is one of the specific programmes in the international field within the multiannual Framework Programme for actions in the energy sector (2). Both Programmes provide for actions which contribute to the achievement of the objectives of energy policy: security of supply, competitiveness and protection of the environment and have particular components for the development of renewable energy sources. The implementation of these Programmes is the responsibility of the Commission. (1) Doc. 13677/98 (Presse 431-G). (2) OJ L 7, 13. 1. 1999, p. 16. (2000/C 280 E/187) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0036/00 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission (19 January 2000) Subject: Constanta-Trieste oil pipeline project According to various reports in the press, two projects for the construction of a new oil pipeline linking the Romanian port of Constanta to the Italian port of Trieste are currently under examination, one by the Italian company ENI and one by an American consortium. The pipeline would cross Hungary and Slovenia and would also provide oil to these two applicant countries. Does the Commission not think it would be advisable to support the construction of this pipeline, particularly in the light of recent ecological disasters, such as the oil slicks in the VendØe and the Bosphorus strait, and also in order to promote improved access to the Transcaucasus, the diversification of energy supply routes for the countries of central and south-east Europe and the development of the ports of Supsa and Constanta? Has the Commission already taken or does it intend to take any initiatives on this matter?