Protectia Mediului

Sid Goodman is the author of the recently released book "Asleep At The Geiger Counter":
http://www.coasttocoastam.com/

A NEW EUROPE AND SAFE EUROPE: NO HIGH-RISK NUCLEAR PLANTS IN AN EXPANDED EU

(Bankwatch Apr 15)  Statement of the CEE Bankwatch Network regarding the signing of the EU  Accession Treaty:

"The eastward expansion of the European Union is a historic chance for us to  close outdated, high-risk nuclear reactors in the former communist countries.  On the eve of the signing of the accession treaty, however, we do not see  any clear commitments from either national governments or the European  Commission to shut down these dangerous reactors, notably Kozloduy units  1-4 (Bulgaria), Ignalina units 1 and 2 (Lithuania) and Bohunice V1 (Slovakia).

Since 1989 the European Commission, through its Phare program, has made  available nearly ?700 million for nuclear safety programs in Central and  Eastern Europe. The European Union, however, has failed to enforce closure.  In fact EU grants -- which were never intended to increase the lifetime of high- risk reactors -- have helped delay early closure of these nuclear facilities, and  almost all the high risk reactors in the accession countries are still operating.  Only two reactors (Kozloduy 1 and 2) have been voluntarily and permanently  closed (at the end of 2002) and there is clear commitment to close only one  reactor more (Ignalina 1, by 2004). The governments of accession countries  have ignored previously reached agreements concerning these dangerous  reactors and are continuing to operate the facilities.

During accession negotiations, the governments of the candidate countries  had much motivation to accept the Commission's goal of shutting down high- risk nuclear units, since they saw decommissioning as a prerequisite for  accession. However, the national governments proved resistant not only to  setting closure dates, preparing decommissioning programs or fulfilling other  necessary steps and conditions, but apparently did not want to shut down  the nuclear units at all. Due to much pressure from the Commission, some  progress was achieved on Kozloduy units 1 and 2 and Ignalina unit 1. The  future of the other nuclear units remains uncertain. When the accession  countries become member states, they will lose any motivation to continue  decommissioning and the future of high-risk reactors will be even more  uncertain.

We believe that the closure of the remaining high-risk reactors can and  should be undertaken as soon as possible. Moreover, decommissioning of  these reactors should be as transparent as possible and include mitigation  measures to address the social impact of closure on the nuclear plants'  satellite towns. We urge the Commission to keep pressure on the new  member states to close these high-risk nuclear units, and call on future  decommissioning funds to be made conditional upon concrete closure dates.  We also call upon the European Union and accession countries to sign  legally binding agreements establishing clear closure dates and timelines for  shutting down these high-risk units. The New Europe should be a safe  Europe, free from high-risk nuclear reactors."

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