Brussels, 14/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - In an interview with Europarl-TV, European Parliament (EP) rapporteur on nuclear waste management Romana Jordan Cizelj (EPP) is critical of “an attitude in Europe that is not sufficiently responsible”. The Slovenian MEP is demanding a toughening of safety standards.
The main danger in Europe with nuclear waste, which can remain radioactive for several centuries, is a “societal risk”, “a responsibility risk”, says Jordan Cizelj. “In Europe, we are concerned mainly with low to medium radioactive waste, not highly radioactive. I do not think that this is a responsible attitude to take, given that technical solutions exist”, she says. She feels that the level of security for permanent storage of high-level radioactive and long-life waste and spent fuel is not high enough. “It is up to us to demand maximum security”, she states, highlighting the role of political decision-makers in putting an appropriate legislative framework in place. In the absence of a definitive solution on storage, Jordan Cizelj argues for “European measures which will force member states to act”, standards which, she says, must require the use of recent technology and the provision of appropriate human and financial resources. She promises to do all she can to ensure that the forthcoming directive on nuclear waste puts the emphasis on transparency and public participation. As to who should pay for storing radioactive waste, Jordan Cizelj backs the polluter-pays principle. She puts forward three options on the issue of waste treatment outside Europe. “The European Commission proposes banning such exports. That is a possibility. Another is that it should only go ahead with countries which have safety standards as severe as the EU. The third option is to be more active in putting in place tougher safety standards internationally, especially with the IAEA”, she says. (E.H./transl.rt)