91998E2958

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2958/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Nuclear reactor at Akkuyu, Turkey

Despite growing international concern, Turkey is pressing ahead with plans to build a nuclear plant on the Aegean coast, even though it is absolutely clear that the region is prone to earthquake. Recently, a letter by the Canadian seismologist Buckthought was published in the Ottawa Citizen, rebutting all the Turkish claims that the region is not an earthquake zone. Among other things, the Canadian professor claims that since 1973 a number of seismic tremors have been recorded in Turkey, the epicentres of which have been between 4 and 60 kilometres from Akkuyu, the planned site of the reactor. In particular, he urges all those who have been involved in this extremely risky programme to adopt a responsible position since a Chernobyl type accident will have fatal consequences for millions of inhabitants of Turkey and the neighbouring countries of Cyprus, Greece and Israel.

Moreover, Turkey's insistence on buying the Canadian CANDU type of reactor, which uses totally different technology from normal high-pressure reactors, raises numerous questions. CANDUs can, in fact, be used to produce nuclear weapons, which is an obvious threat to peace in the wider region. Following India's admission that it succeeded in making its own nuclear bomb with the aid of a CANDU reactor, it cannot be ruled out that Turkey might also repeat the process.

In the light of these revelations, what action will the Commission take to persuade Turkey (an EU associate country) to cancel this nuclear programme which poses such a tremendous threat to the safety of the EU's population?

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

(28 October 1998)

The Commission would refer the Honorable Member to its answer to his Written Questions P-662/98(1), E-1876/98(2) and E-2190/98(3) and to Written Question E-2107/98 by Mr Alavanos(4).

(1) OJ C 304, 2.10.1998, p. 143.

(2) See page 12.

(3) See page 54.

(4) See page 37.