Press release - June 25, 2009
Brussels, Belgium — Today, environment ministers meeting in Luxembourg will rubber-stamp a Euratom Directive on Nuclear Safety. The law was meant to improve nuclear safety in Europe by setting EU-wide standards. However, the directive mainly refers to weak principles from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which all EU countries are already bound to as signatories of the Convention on Nuclear Safety.
Attempts to improve the independence of nuclear regulators have also been watered down. There is no provision in the directive to guarantee the accountability of nuclear regulators.
"There is nothing new in this law to improve nuclear safety in Europe. We are still faced with a nuclear industry that sees safety as an obstacle, rather than a paramount necessity," said Jan Haverkamp, EU nuclear energy expert for Greenpeace.
Greenpeace calls on the EU to base its safety rules on the principles of best available technology and best regulatory practice.
COPENHAGEN CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY
European environment ministers are also discussing the priorities of the Swedish EU Presidency for the next round of international climate negotiations ahead of the global climate conference in Copenhagen in December. Greenpeace urges the incoming Swedish presidency to start building strong alliances on climate change with ambitious developing countries and to challenge less ambitious countries such as the U.S. and Japan.
"Environment ministers meeting today should ensure that the Swedish Presidency makes it a priority to enable developing countries to implement green measures by providing adequate financing. Only immediate upfront funding for climate measures can break the deadlock in climate negotiations," said Joris den Blanken, EU climate and energy policy director for Greenpeace.
Without the backing of other rich countries, the EU is reluctant to commit financial support to enable developing countries to implement green measures. The forthcoming G8 meeting in Italy will be the first opportunity for European countries to build alliances in the industrialised world on the climate financing issue.
Other contacts:
Joris den Blanken - Greenpeace EU climate and energy policy director:
+32 (0)2 274 1919, +32 (0) 476 961 375 (mobile), 
Jan Haverkamp, Greenpeace EU dirty energy policy campaigner, Brussels:
+32 2 274 1921, +32 477 790 416 (mobile), e-mail: 
Mark Breddy -- Greenpeace EU communications manager:
+32 (0)2 274 1903, +32 (0)496 156 229 (mobile), 