91997E1723

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1723/97 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (7 May 1997)

Subject: Ireland's contributions to Euratom

Can the Commission give details of Ireland's annual contributions to Euratom over the past five years? What percentage of Euratom's annual budget do Irish contributions account for? Can the Commission give a breakdown of how much Euratom spent in 1996 on each of the following areas: nuclear safety/radiation protection, research and development, administration, staff?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (6 June 1997)

Since 1970 the Euratom budget has been completely merged with the Community budget. There is therefore no separate budget for Euratom and hence no Irish contribution to the Euratom budget as such.

Ireland's percentage contribution to the general budget therefore gives a good idea of its contribution to the activities of the budget connected with the Euratom treaty. In 1996, Ireland contributed 0.96% to the financing of the general budget.

Commitments for nuclear-related programmes as shown in the revenue and expenditure account of the general budget for 1996 ((SEC(97) 399. )) were as follows:

* B4-20 - Euratom nuclear safeguards: ECU 19 million;

* B4-1020 - Transport of radioactive material in the European Union (EC/ECSC): ECU 2 million;

* B4-307 - Nuclear safety and radiation protection: ECU 2.9 million;

* B6-1 and B6-3: Nuclear research carried out by the Joint Research Centre: ECU 74 million;

* B6-8: Nuclear research - Indirect action by the EAEC programme: ECU 267 million.