- Euratom Reform
Updated: 2/11- 2004
INFORSE Position
INFORSE-Europe supports the proposal of a EURATOM reform, to transform it into a pure regulatory body that has no role in promotion of nuclear power.
Background and Description
By proposing the nuclear package the European Commission is highlighting
the need for the reform of the Euratom Treaty, for the following reasons:
1) The Commission is proposing that it, through Euratom, take on new powers
to both promote - by increasing the Euratom Loan Ceiling - and regulate
- by setting targets for radioactive waste management and new power on
nuclear safety. No institution should both promote and regulate nuclear
power. - ironically, the draft safety directive states that on the Member
State level the regulator must not be concerned with promoting nuclear
power.
2) The mechanism to adopt these new powers will not involved the European
Parliament in co-decision.
3) The draft legislation calls for the safety assessment of nuclear facilities
to remain confidential.
A number of Governments and delegates to the European Convention have stated that the reform of Euratom should be included on this agenda. It is clear that by proposing the further extension of the powers of Euratom the Commission is highlighting the need for the extensive overhaul or removal of the Euratom Treaty from the EU legal framework.
EURATOM Treaty Continue as Parallel to EU Treaty
The intergovernmental EU conference that was convened to form a new EU
Treaty did not propose to change the EURATOM Treaty, but left it as
an independent treaty with no amendments.
IGC - The way Ahead
A number of NGOs have proposed
to call for a special intergovernmental conference to amend the EURATOM
Treaty. Some countries support the idea, including Germany, Austria,
Ireland, Sweden, and Hungary. It is now crucial to build support from
more countries for the proposal, in order finally to amend the EURATOM
Treaty, or abolish it.
More info: see the Friends of Earth Europe website www.foeeurope.org
or www.wwf.org/epo.