91998E3225

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3225/98

by Roberto Mezzaroma (PPE) to the Commission

(26 October 1998)

Subject: Russian submarines

Is the Commission aware - as I have been informed - that many nuclear-powered submarines are moored in Russian fiords close to other countries' frontiers, and that they receive little or no maintenance, although their nuclear reactors are still active?

- if so, which directorates-general are dealing with the problem?

- what action has been taken by the European Union on this issue?

- what is the attitude of the countries concerned?

- what are the real dangers?

- and, finally, which officials are dealing with the problem?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(13 November 1998)

The Commission is perfectly aware that spent nuclear fuel from submarines and from icebreakers represents a high risk to the environment in the Russion Federation and neighbouring countries. This problem is of particular importance in the North-West of the country.

The Commission attaches great importance to the issue of nuclear safety in the Russian Federation. The Community is the largest contributor to technical assistance in the field of nuclear safety in Russia. Of the ECU 470 million of bilateral assistance committed since 1992, the Community has contributed close to ECU 300 million (63 %).

The Commission is already supporting a range of projects addressing the issue of radioactive waste management and fuel including undertaking an inventory of all the radioactive waste and spent fuel in North-West Russia, an international project to remove spent nuclear fuel from the ship "Lepse" which is used to store spent fuel, the development of casks (containers) for the spent fuel, and providing technical assistance in the management of spent fuel (storage, transport, disposal).

The Commission, along with Norway and the United States, has signaled willingness to participate in a broader concerted international effort to address this issue, providing the Russian Federation removes the obstacles concerning nuclear liability, customs and tax issues in the implementation of the projects and grants access to sites and data, as appropriate.

Up to now, the Russian Federation has not removed these obstacles. The Commission uses all the mechanisms and bilateral meetings to insist on the urgency of the question. Regular meetings of involved countries and the Russian Federation take place in the framework of the contact expert group, created under International atomic energy agency auspices. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in November 1998 in Murmansk.