Luxembourg, 06/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Court of Justice has just ruled against the United Kingdom because Gibraltar has still not transposed the Council's Euratom directive of 13 May 1996, which sets out the levels for protection of locals and worker in the sector from the dangers of ionizing radiation.
In 199 and 2000 the British sent the Commission the Ionizing Radiations Regulations of 1999 (England and Wales), Radioactive Substances (Basic Safety Standards) (Scotland) Regulations of 2000, as well as the Radioactive Substance (Basic Safety Standards) (Scotland) Direction of 2000.
The Commission rules that this regulation did not cover the protection of air crews or cases of radiological emergency, but also those measures did not apply to Northern Ireland or Gibraltar. After receiving two other drafts including the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulation of 2001, and after having received assurances that the directive was applicable to Northern Ireland, the Commission decided that only transposition of the directive in Gibraltar was lacking.
The Council directive sets out that Member States submit certain practices that present risks from ionizing radiation to a system necessitating a preliminary declaration. They are also obliged to strengthen their mutual links, even with third countries, in order to prepare for any possible emergency situations.