Brussels, 02/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has recommended to the Council handing it a negotiating brief to continue, until 2005, EU participation in the Organisation for Energy Development on the Korean Peninsula, the "Kedo". This body was set up on the initiative of the United States in the framework of nuclear non-proliferation activities. It manages the construction of two light-water nuclear reactors in North Korea and provides it with 500,000 tonnes of heavy fuel yearly, in exchange for North Korea's dropping its military nuclear programme. It is funded by the United States, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the EU. The European contribution represents 2% of the project's cost, or 75 million euro over five years, in the framework of Euratom/Kedo agreement that expires this year. The European Community will decide on its new financial contribution in the framework of negotiations to be held this year with its Kedo partners. Discussions will also revolve around participation of Community industry in calls for tender for the building of the reactors, says the Commission. The first contracts have just been signed for the construction of the first reactor. "I am convinced that the Kedo profits from EU participation on its board, of our presence in the Secretariat, as well as the skill and know-how of European companies engaged in this major industrial project", remarked the European Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten.
At its meeting in July, the General Affairs Council had declared its readiness to examine, when the time was right, whether to continue with the EU's financial contribution to the running of the Kedo. For its part, the European Parliament has asked to be kept informed of the project and placed the Kedo credits in a "reserve" budget heading, as means of applying pressure. Here, the Commission stipulates that it will "keep Parliament fully informed of developments in talks".