Brussels, 08/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - Albeit split along political as well as national lines, MEPs were able to adopt a common position on nuclear safety in Europe in the light of the accident, still unresolved, at the Fukushima Daichi nuclear power plant in Japan. During plenary session, on 7 April in Strasbourg, they rejected by 264 votes to 300 and 61 abstentions a join draft resolution from the EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL groups.
The European Parliament was unable to agree on what lessons should be drawn from the Fukushima incident despite unanimous agreement on the need to carry out stress tests on the 143 nuclear reactors of the EU and on any future installations to check resistance to a series of threats (such as seismic risk, flooding, tidal waves, etc) - and also to extend these tests to working or future reactors to be built in neighbouring third countries, although with some slight differences depending on the independence of those carrying out the tests.
The Social Democrat (S&D) and Greens/EFA groups especially were opposed to the final text further to the rejection of an amendment proposed by Marita Ulvskog (S&D, Sweden), calling on member states to prepare strategies for exit from nuclear use in the medium or long term. A majority of the French and Polish conservative members of the EPP Group rejected the draft resolution because of its invitation to set up a moratorium, recommended by the Liberals (ALDE), on the building of new reactors at least while stress tests are being carried out.
After voting, the groups denied they were responsible for Parliament's failure to find a common position on this highly sensitive dossier. While the French delegation of the EPP cast blame upon the Greens and on the fact that they always “go the whole hog”, the Liberals accused the two extremes, “those who want nothing to happen and those who want the nuclear plants to close down immediately”. Then there were the Greens who pointed a finger of blame at the Liberals saying they were responsible for the fact that the amendment on phasing out the nuclear option had been rejected.
Responding to this later in the afternoon on Thursday, Catherine Trautmann said on behalf of the French Socialists that she regretted a “failure, the cause of which is to be found in the will to enlarge the text on safety and stress tests to the future of nuclear power”. “In order to deal with the question of Europe's nuclear future, we needed time, as for now there are four approaches: those who are anti-nuclear, those who are in favour of nuclear, MEPs wanting a rapid exit, and MEPs in favour of an exit over the medium and long term. One week was obviously not long enough to conduct reflection and find a majority”, Trautmann explained. “The compromise resolution was a good base, and we have backed amendments in favour of a well thought-out and prepared exit from the nuclear option, taking into account the fight against global warming. We have also voted in favour of amendments calling for investment in R&D and innovation for developing energy savings and massively increasing the use of renewable energies. However, the results of the voting, which were incoherent, made us vote against the resolution as amended. It is now of primary importance to have an in-depth debate on all these subjects and to implement an energy transition in solidarity, taking into account the situation in all member states”, the French deputy said. (E.H./transl.jl)