WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3325/98 by Marjo MATIKAINEN-KALLSTRÖM to the Commission. Effects of the crisis in Russia on its nuclear safety
21. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 142/121 In the light of the most recent information, how serious does the Commission consider the economic effects of the Russian crisis will be on the Estonian economy? What effect does the Commission consider the deepening crisis will have on Estonia’s negotiations for EU membership? Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (9 December 1998) The Commission believes that the impact of the Russian crisis on the Estonian economy will be limited and rather short-lived. The lower expected gross domestic product (GDP) growth for Estonia in 1998 may help diminish the external imbalances which had resulted from high growth rates in the past. The Commission is confident that the long-term economic prospects remain good, provided that prudent macro-economic policies are maintained. The Commission does not consider that the current economic crisis in Russia will have an effect on the process of Estonia’s negotiations for Community membership. (1999/C 142/152) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3325/98 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE) to the Commission (10 November 1998) Subject: Effects of the crisis in Russia on its nuclear safety The deepening political and economic crisis in Russia has already created problems with the country’s energy supplies. According to recent news reports the nuclear power station at Sosnoviy Bor near St. Petersburg has filed for bankruptcy on the grounds of debt, and the salaries of workers at nuclear power stations in the Kola peninsula have been in arrears for several months. How much of a threat does the Commission consider the Russian crisis poses to the country’s nuclear safety? What does the Commission propose to do to identify the nuclear safety problems caused by the crisis in its cooperation with the Russian authorities? Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (1 December 1998) The Commission is certainly concerned by the impact that the current crisis in Russia will have on nuclear safety. The present situation confirms the importance that the Commission has placed on activities in this sector. In particular through a twinning between Community utilities and most nuclear power plants in Russia, the Commission supports a permanent monitoring of the situation at these installations, the transfer of Community working methods and important supplies of safety-related equipment. The Russian crisis has also highlighted the fact that nuclear safety is not only a technical issue, but an economic and structural issue, and must be addressed as such. For this reason, the Commission has included assistance for the restructuring of the nuclear sector in Russia in its programme. Concerning the non-payment of wages, it should be noted that this is a chronic problem, and one may question whether the current crisis will exacerbate it further. However, the payment of salaries is a centre- piece of the new government’s programme, and it is to be hoped that the government will address the root causes of this problem