Energy Charter and Protocol on energy efficiency and related environmental aspects

Unanimously adopting the report by Mrs Marjo Tuulevi MATIKAINEN-KALLSTROM (PPE, FIN), the committee (chairman: Mr Umberto SCAPAGNINI (UPE, I)), decided to recommend that Parliament assent to the conclusion of the Energy Charter Treaty and the protocol on energy efficiency and related environmental aspects. The committee took the opinion that the treaty would help to restore the economic situation on the continent, especially in central and eastern Europe and the republics of the former Soviet Union, and to increase stability in the region. International relations should also benefit. The protocol was considered to be a good basis for increased environmental protection, mainly thanks to improved energy efficiency. Mrs MATIKAINEN-KALLSTROM estimated the potential for energy savings in the above countries at 30% to 40%. However, the committee on research was seriously worried about nuclear safety in the CEECs. The defective operation of a large number of nuclear power stations and their poor state of repair were exacerbated by the huge problem of the illegal trade in plutonium and other radioactive substances from the nuclear arsenal of the former Soviet Union. The European Commission was called on to take immediate measures to control this dangerous situation in cooperation with the republics of the former Soviet Union.�