PLANS to create Europe-wide rules for nuclear reactor safety and the disposal of radioactive waste have been dealt a potentially fatal blow.
The European Commission fears that some of the 22 Soviet-designed reactors in countries expected to join the European Union in the next five years might be dangerous. The plan, which requires these countries to set up independent, externally monitored safety watchdogs, would also apply to the nuclear stations in the 15 existing member states.
The commission is keen to set a tough timetable for countries to deal with their waste. The rules require them to pick suitable burial sites for waste by 2008 and to start using them by 2018. But the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schr枚der, have now written to the commission rejecting these plans, saying they interfere with governments鈥� national responsibilities. Their position is backed by Sweden, Finland and Belgium.
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The letter argues that rules requiring governments to set aside money to decommission defunct reactors are 鈥渋nappropriate for legislation鈥�. And they dismiss the suggested deadlines for nuclear waste disposal as 鈥渋mpossible鈥� and 鈥渘ot acceptable, given the difficult scientific questions involved鈥�.
Instead, Blair and Schr枚der propose 鈥渁 voluntary, non-binding harmonisation process which respects the national responsibility of the member states for nuclear safety鈥�. The commission is considering its response this week.