Brussels, 13/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has called for the full implementation of the recommendations arising from the stress tests exercise carried out in the wake of Fukushima.
In a resolution it will adopt at its plenary session on Thursday 14 March, on the basis of the report by the chairwoman of the energy committee, Amalia Sartori (EPP, Italy), the European Parliament will call for the “urgent” implementation of all safety improvements recommended following the nuclear stress tests carried out between spring 2011 and summer 2012 in light of the accident at Fukushima Daiichi (Japan) in March 2011, the results of which were published in October (see EUROPE 10703). MEPs feel that it is up to the nuclear operators to cover the costs of these improvements as well as any costs for which they are responsible in the event of an accident.
The stress tests show that practically all nuclear power stations must make specific safety improvements at each site, MEPs are expected to stress, calling for the urgent implementation of the necessary improvement measures. A major role in this process is to be given to the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) in the peer review of the implementation on the basis of the national action plans. MEPs feel that all of the costs of the improvements should be borne by the nuclear operators alone, rather from the taxpayers.
The Parliament is expected to welcome the forthcoming revision of the directive on nuclear safety, which will be “ambitious” and lead to major improvements, as well as the Commission's intention of proposing legislative and non-legislative instruments for nuclear insurance and responsibility. (EH/transl.fl)