Brussels, 16/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday the European Commission referred the UK to the Court of Justice. It is accusing the UK authorities of not following Euratom Treaty rules for the disposal of radioactive waste arising from the refitting and refuelling of nuclear submarines by Devonport Dockyards Ltd (DML). The Euratom Treaty provides that any plan for the disposal of radioactive waste shall be assessed by the Commission prior to its implementation, in order to determine whether such a plan produces a significant impact from a health point of view in another Member State. Each Member State must provide the Commission with general data relating to any plan in whatever form. An assessment of the transboundary effects arising from the implementation of the plan submitted is then made. The Commission delivers its opinion within six months, after consulting a Group of Experts.
Gilles Gantelet, spokesman for Energy Commissioner Loyola de Palacio, indicated that the Commission had requested information from the United Kingdom, which believed that it did not have to respond as this involved military waste and therefore covered by the defence official secrecy act. Mr Gantelet pointed out that Chapter 3 of the Euratom treaty covers management of civilian and military waste. For this reasons the Commission has decided to take the United Kingdom to court if no response is forthcoming.