91998E2172

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2172/98

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(10 July 1998)

Subject: Castor shipments in breach of EU law

Can the Commission say what action it will take following the violation by Member States of EU legislation on radiation protection, namely Council Directives 92/3/Euratom(1) of 3 February 1992 and 96/29/Euratom(2) of 13 May 1996, in the case of the Castor shipments?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1998)

It should be noted that Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 laying down basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation will only come into effect in May 2000. Directives 80/836/Euratom of 15 July 1980(3) and 84/467/Euratom of 3 September 1984(4) remain valid until that time. However, the Commission has no evidence of any breach of the provisions of any of these three directives or of Directive 92/3/Euratom of 3 February 1992 on the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste between Member States and into and out of the Community.

As to possible future actions, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its statement in the Plenary session of the Parliament of 17 June 1998(5).

(1) OJ L 35, 12.2.1992, p. 24.

(2) OJ L 159, 29.6.1996, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 246, 17.9.1980.

(4) OJ L 265, 5.10.1984.

(5) Verbatim report of proceedings 17 June 1998, provisional edition, p. 20.