Biarritz, 16/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel took advantage of the opportunity offered by the Summit of Biarritz to return to the question of nuclear safety, in the context of the firing up of the nuclear power plant of Temelin, in the Czech Republic. The French Presidency said that it would, together with the European Commission, examine how to follow-up the issue. EUROPE recalls that this problem had already been raised by Austria at the General Affairs Council of 9 October and that the Commission had answered that the question would have to be studied by the Council's "Atomic Group" in view of defining guidelines.
At a press conference on the fringe of the European Council, Mr. Schuessel placed emphasis on the importance of the issue for his country. Referring to two letters that had remained unanswered, he deplored the "refusal to dialogue" on the part of the Czech authorities. He also explained that, in the context of the Czech Republic's application to join the EU, this issue, that relates to the respect by this country of EU environmental standards, had to be dealt with a European level.
Lipponen concerned at Russian plan to build an oil port on the Baltic
Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen told the European Council of the concerns of his country regarding the Russian plan to build an oil port on the Gulf of Finland and the risks of sea pollution that could stem from carrying oil from that port. He asked the Presidency, which provided its agreement, to raise the issue at the forthcoming EU/Russia Summit, in Paris on 30 October.