Brussels, 13/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the report by German Green, Hiltrud Breyer on the draft decision allowing the European Commission to contract "Euratom" loans for contributing to funding nuclear plants (consultation procedure), the European Parliament provoked the anger of its rapporteur, who also requested that her name be withdrawn from the resolution. In a press statement, Ms Breyer said that she was "scandalised" by the vote, which she saw as a "huge disappointment". The plenary had in fact rejected all her amendments requesting (in particular) that only projects aiming to improve safety at nuclear plants in third countries could benefit from Euratom loans. Greens-EFA amendments also wanted these loans to be subject to consultation by the public and a favourable opinion from parliament. Amendments also called on the Commission to present proposals on the gradual phasing our of the Euratom treaty beginning in May 2004 and ending in 2007.
Despite the general trend in Europe to stop using nuclear energy, Ms Breyer said that Commission and a majority of MEPs confirmed their role as "deputies" and attendants to a nuclear industry undergoing a severe crisis. She deplored the fact that parliament had agreed to a "massive aid programme" to the "unprofitable nuclear energy industry". She insisted that instead of insisting on "a draconian reinforcement" of safety rules the industry was happy for a few "flexible and non-binding" standards for calming public opinion. According to Ms Breyer, the Commission will "be financially and personally incapable" of monitoring respect for these rules in the different EU plants. According to Breyer, the fact that the parliament is pressurising Member States to outline by 2008 at the latest their sites for the final discharge of nuclear waste, could prove dangerous as these choices were in danger of causing a rush, without the sufficient participation of scientists and public opinion.