Nuclear energy: safety of installations, basic obligations and general principles

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Esko SEPP�NEN (EUL/NGL, FIN) making several amendments to the Commission's proposal. (Please see the document dated 27/11/03.) The following principal amendments were also made: - Parliament clarified that the directive applied to all uranium mines and all nuclear installations; - there is a new article concerning the protection of the population. Member States must ensure that the measures for operational protection of the population pursuant to Article 44 of Directive 96/29/Euratom take account of the nuclear safety aspects at all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. Approval of plans for nuclear installations and of the proposed siting of such installations must take account of the nuclear safety aspects. Member States should ensure that the exposure suffered by the general public and by workers to ionising radiation during construction, operation and decommissioning is restricted to the lowest level that is technically achievable. Member States should also ensure that financial resources built up for decommissioning offer liquidity compatible with the timetable for decommissioning operations and are exclusively assigned to decommissioning operations, and are guaranteed in the event of the bankruptcy of the operator. Finally, Parliament suggested establishing a "Regulatory Authorities Committee", composed of representatives of national regulatory bodies, that would carry out reviews and horizontal control in accordance with the proposed directive.�