Strasbourg, 09/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - Heckled by the Greens/EFA Group but defended by its EPP political family on the basis that Germany is pulling out of the nuclear option, Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger argued in favour of the criteria and timetable for nuclear stress tests (see EUROPE 10386) as he addressed the European Parliament on Thursday 9 June. He called on MEPs to weigh up progress made regarding safety checks on European nuclear power plants since the Fukushima accident, underlining that, once the results are published, more will be known of what had been done over the previous 30 years.
Oettinger spoke of how three testing stages would unfold on 143 plants operating in 14 member states: - since 1 June, nuclear plant owners have been closely examining their installations in relation to European criteria; - national authorities will be making their own verification; - and peer scrutiny will take place at European level. Oettinger promised that they would not be gullible as they will have the possibility of on-the-spot investigation. He placed emphasis on “transparency and reliability”. On the subject of criteria, he said “human factors” (lack of professional qualifications, aircraft pilot errors) were to be taken into account but not terrorist action in so far as the national authorities do not consider they are competent in this field. Oettinger explained that the Commission had invited member states to put them in touch with the authorities on this matter, and announced an interim report would be ready for November. Regarding the geographical scope of the stress tests, he mentioned Armenia, Croatia, Ukraine, Russia, Switzerland and Turkey, that have agreed to go along with the European approach, while recognising the EU's limited powers when it comes to encouraging Belarus to fall in with the movement.
Speaking on behalf of the EPP Group, Herbert Reul of Germany welcomed the “exemplary action” by the commissioner. Denouncing the “hypocrisy” of the Greens that, he felt, were never satisfied, he said that, just six months ago, it would have been “impossible” to imagine the results reached on the definition of stress test criteria and safety cooperation with third countries. “It is all too easy to go on screaming and focusing on giving up the nuclear option!”, he said.
Teresa Riera Madurell (S&D, Spain) is not fully satisfied with the approach chosen. In her view, peer review is a good step forward but an independent organisation should be created at European level in order to have a “second opinion”. Nuclear reactors used for research should also be tested, while terrorist attacks should be part of the factors to be taken into account.
On behalf of the Greens, Rebecca Harms of Germany said the commissioner had committed a “grave mistake”. She would have liked him to admit that stress tests will only be made “on paper”. Harms said: “What you are proposing is a strategy aimed at minimising the risks entailed by nuclear energy in Europe. An 'Oettinger' label will be placed on the older installations”. Yannick Jadot (Greens/EFA, France) expressed his view saying: “Yes, we wish to give up nuclear installations because we consider it is the only way to eliminate nuclear risk. The latest forecasts show that there will be a major, global nuclear incident within the next 15 years”.
Lena Ek (ALDE, Sweden) said on behalf of her group that the “proposed stress tests are, however, too weak”. The ALDE Group has called for the entire nuclear safety culture and the human factor to be included in the test. However, she went on, this is not the case. “I sincerely hope that the Commission finds another way forward to test the safety culture”, she said, calling on the Commission to put forward proposals as part of the revision of the nuclear safety directive to remedy these problems. This, the ALDE Group pointed out, includes the issues of safety in respect of decommissioning and waste. Corinne Lepage (ALDE, France) said that the stress tests proposed were a success for nuclear operators, for safety authorities that have covered what has been done over the past 30 years, and for member states that do not wish to cast doubt on the choices they have made (not only on keeping nuclear energy but also on risk assessment). Speaking on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Sabine Wils of Germany expressed “indignation” as stress testing for nuclear plants gives operators an “alibi” to continue using their power plants. Terrorist acts are not included in the tests, she bemoaned. She went on to recommend: - a scenario for giving up the nuclear option in Europe; - encouragement to Europe's neighbouring countries to give up nuclear energy; - preventing the construction of new nuclear power plans. The Euratom Treaty should be dissolved, Wils concluded. (M.B./L.C./transl.jl)