91999E0590

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0590/99

by Nuala Ahern (V) to the Commission

(12 March 1999)

Subject: Council Directive 96/29/Euratom in respect of the environmental implications of the deregulation of controls over radioactivity

What representations has the Commission received on the Council Directive 96/29/Euratom(1) in respect of the environmental implications of the deregulation of controls over radioactivity? What information does it have concerning steps taken by EU Member States in transposing the Basic Standards Directive into national law?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 1999)

Council Directive 96/29/Euratom laying down basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public and workers against the dangers of ionising radiation contains the main features of the proposal made by the Commission, based on the opinion of the group of scientific experts referred to in Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty.

Directive 96/29/Euratom replaces Directive 80/836/Euratom(2) as amended by Directive 84/467/Euratom(3) and the Commission believes that it offers better protection to workers and members of the public, based on updated scientific advice, in line with the recommendation of the relevant international organisations. This new directive cannot be considered as deregulating this area. On the contrary, several additional requirements have been introduced whose scope has been extended to cover exposure to natural radiation.

In spite of the care that the Commission put into preparing the proposed directive and into the negotiations with the institutions that led to its adoption, the Directive, like any other piece of legislation, is subject to criticism by individuals or interest groups. An overview of the criticisms was presented at the workshop entitled "Survey and evaluation of criticism of basic safety standards for the protection of workers and the public against ionising radiation" organised by the Parliament in Brussels on 5 February 1998, and is contained in the document of the same name published by Parliament.

Finally, only the Netherlands have already incorporated major parts of Directive 96/29/Euratom into their national laws. That Directive is to be transposed by 13 May 2000. Denmark has transposed some individual provisions of the Directive.

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

(2) OJ L 246, 17.9.1980.

(3) OJ L 265, 5.10.1984.