Brussels, 24/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - As part of its cooperation with Ukraine, the EU will, on Friday 26 April, mark the 27th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster by inaugurating a medical centre for the people affected by the radioactivity which is still present in the region of the former nuclear power station.
French MEP Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA) who, along with her compatriot Corine Lepage (ADLE), will represent the European Parliament in the EU delegation to Ukraine for the inauguration ceremony on Friday, stressed that “it is further to a long institutional process and the obstinacy of the Green group that projects defending the protection of the victims of Chernobyl on the long term have seen the light of day” (our translation). “Taking advantage of funding from the European neighbourhood policy, we introduced an amendment calling for the study of the consequences of Chernobyl and the medical monitoring of the victims to be included in our assistance to third countries in the field of civil nuclear power”, she said.
Having invested several hundred million euro in the construction of protective and safety housing (sarcophagus) for the Chernobyl reactor, the EU is showing its determination to take an interest also in the health consequences affecting the silent victims of the Chernobyl disaster.
Of the €4 million made available to pay for the future medical centre, two will fund the activities of the centre to carry out medical and epidemiological monitoring of the victims, 1 million will pay for an incinerator fitted with filters to prevent radioactivity from being disseminated into the environment, and 1 million will pay for a greenhouse to grow food on non-contaminated soil. (EH/transl.fl)