[news] Anti-nuclear EU states push Euratom review

[Antic.org - SNN]

Anti-nuclear EU states push Euratom review

Austria, Germany and Ireland have called for immediate inter-governmental talks on revising the EU's Euratom nuclear power treaty. The demand is contained in a declaration tabled at the latest meeting of EU heads of government, which began on Thursday.

The three anti-nuclear countries' move is designed to unpick Euratom's current rquirement for atomic energy to be promoted. Environmentalists successfully campaigned to keep the treaty separate from the EU's draft constitution last summer and strongly welcomed the new declaration.

Describing Euratom treaty as "fundamentally flawed, outdated and undemocratic", Green MEP Claude Turmes warned that "if it stays in force it will seriously undermine the... constitution and could endanger its ratification as many of those states that reject nuclear power are also holding referenda".

Austria made a similar demand for Euratom to be reviewed last December. The fact that Germany has joined it this time adds weight to the call. Environmental groups claim that there is considerable support from other EU countries.

Follow-up:  EU council of ministers, tel: +32 2 285 6211.

Article Index:  energy, nuclear

ED,ISSUE 1689 - THURSDAY 17 JUNE 2004