WRITTEN QUESTION P-1423/99 by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Relations between EU and Turkey and nuclear safety.
20. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 170 E/9 (2000/C 170 E/009) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1423/99 by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: Relations between EU and Turkey and nuclear safety The Turkish Governmentís decision to have a nuclear plant built in the earthquake-prone region of Akkuyu by an international consortium using CANDU reactors ü which recent reports claim have safety problems and do not meet international safety standards ü is a lethal threat to the inhabitants of the Mediterranean, the Balkans, the Black Sea region and the Middle East. 1. What information does the Commission have about the plant and what stage has been reached with the plans to build it? 2. Will the Commission raise the matter of the construction of the plant with the relevant Community bodies and in the context of EU-Turkey relations with a view to the cancellation of the project? In the light of the position adopted by the European Council 3. in Luxembourg concerning the eligibility of Turkey for accession to the EU and of the requirement to comply with the Copenhagen Councilís criteria, which include the adoption of Community legislation on nuclear safety and environ- mental protection by countries seeking membership of the Union, can the Union accept the installation of such a nuclear plant which may endanger public health in Greece and the wider region? 4. Is it possible to adopt the Commissionís proposal for a regulation on the intensification of the customs Union between the EU and Turkey ü which provides for the approximation of legislation with a view to the adoption of the acquis communautaire and the development of plans to promote environ- mental protection with a budget of over € 135 million ü when the Turkish Governmentís decision to build such a nuclear plant is contrary to the objectives pursued by that proposal for a regulation? Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission (18 October 1999) The information available to the Commission indicates that the Turkish authorities have not yet awarded the construction contract for the nuclear power station at Akkuyu, nor does it give a date when they are likely to take such a decision. In the circumstances, it is too soon to say whether a particular type of reactor will be chosen. Only one of the three tenders submitted to the Turkish authorities specifies the CANDU reactor referred to by the Honourable Member. The authorities feel that the successful candidates should have an proven reputation for designing and building at least two fully operational nuclear power stations, at least one of which must be a relevant reference point for the Akkuyu project. Although the Commission is following this dossier closely, it does not have any authority in the decision-making process regarding the construction work or the site. The Turkish authorities, especially the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEA) are solely responsible. As far as security and respect for the environment are concerned, the authorities have already stated that the Akkuyu site was chosen after detailed seismic, geological and environmental studies. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that the assumptions underlying the proposed plans allow for a stronger earthquake than any ever recorded in the region, with the epicentre at the power station itself, rather than on the nearest fault line 20 kilometres away. According to the IAEA, the terrible earthquake in August in the north-west (though far away from Akkuyu) would not have changed the results. C 170 E/10 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 6. 2000 Until now co-operation on energy issues between the Community and Turkey has remained fairly limited due mainly to the lack of appropriate financial aid for Turkey. Nevertheless, the European Strategy for Turkey, which the Commission adopted in March 1998 (1) at the request of the Luxembourg European Council with the aim of preparing Turkey for membership of the EU provides for intensification of such co-operation. Nuclear energy issues including those involving security and the environment could be discussed within this framework. The Commission made two proposals in October 1998 (2) for financial support for the European Strategy. Their adoption by the budgetary authority should finally give some substance to co-operation on energy issues. (1) COM(98) 124 final. (2) OJ C 408, 29. 12. 1998. (2000/C 170 E/010) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1427/99 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: Interreg assistance for Carinthia and Slovenia The whole of the Austrian Land of Carinthia constitutes an area eligible for Interreg assistance. As a state directly adjacent to the EU, Slovenia qualifies in the same way for such assistance. Slovenia has received funds from the aid programme in question for the expansion of Llubljana airport. According to my information, this has meant that assistance has not been given for a number of projects in Carinthia. Can the Commission answer the following: 1. What amount of Interreg funds has been provided to Slovenia? 2. For what planned, current or completed projects in Slovenia have Interreg funds to date been granted? 3. What amount of Interreg funds has been provided to Carinthia (during the period corresponding to that for which funds have been provided to Slovenia)? 4. What projects in Carinthia in connection with which an application has been made for Interreg funds have been rejected, and on what grounds? 5. Is the Commission aware of a direct or indirect link between the projects in Carinthia which have not been supported and the simultaneous assistance for projects in Slovenia? Answer given by M. Barnier on behalf of the Commission (11 October 1999) The Interreg IIA programme Austria-Slovenia applies to the regions of Unterkärnten and Klagenfurt-Villach in Kärnten and Südweststeiermark and Oststeiermark in Steiermark. The programme focuses on the border regions Wolfsberg, Völkermarkt, Villach-Stadt, Villach-Land, Klagenfurt-Stadt and Klagenfurt-Land in Kärnten and Deutschlandsberg, Leibnitz and Radkersburg in Steiermark. Slovenia is not part of the eligible region for the Interreg IIA programme Austria-Slovenia and does therefore not receive financial support from this programme. Interreg IIA can only support projects that are located within the Community. These projects need to have a clear cross border character and should be aimed at co-operation with the neighbouring regions. Matching projects on the Slovenian side of the border can be financed from the PHARE CBC (cross border co-operation) programme. For the period 1995-1999, Slovenia has an indicative budget of € 14 million from PHARE CBC for cross-border co-operation with Austria