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EU leaders commit to nuclear power monitoring |
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| EU: December 17, 2001 | ||
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BRUSSELS - European Union leaders committed themselves on the weekend to swapping information on nuclear safety in a move which could smooth EU enlargement to eastern European states operating ageing Russian reactors.
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"The European Council is committed to a high level of nuclear safety throughout the Union. It stresses the need to monitor safety and security of nuclear power stations," leaders said in conclusions to a two-day summit meeting. "It asks for regular reports from member states' atomic energy experts who will maintain close contact with the European Commission," the statement added. Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel described the declaration as an important first and a triumph for Vienna, which has attacked a decision by the neighbouring Czech Republic to start a reactor at Temelin near the two countries' border. Bulgaria and Lithuania also operate reactors similar to one which exploded in Chernobyl, Ukraine, in 1986, in the world's worst ever civil nuclear accident. Ireland, which is in dispute with the United Kingdom over a reprocessing plant at Sellafield in north western England, also welcomed the conclusions, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said. Schuessel noted the decision was taken in the shadow of the Brussels Atomium - an atom shaped monument to the nuclear age built in 1958 for the city's world fair. Diplomats said France, Europe's biggest user of nuclear power, fought to tone down earlier drafts of the conclusions which called on the EU executive European Commission to propose common nuclear safety standards.
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REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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