Vol. 464 No. 3
33 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the plans, if any, he has to raise the need for a review and updating of Article 34 of the Euratom Treaty during the Irish Presidency of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8098/96]
The possibility of a review and update of this treaty to place greater emphasis on health, safety and environmental aspects has been raised by Ireland in the context of the Intergovernmental Conference which is considering amendments to the treaties of the Union.
The Euratom Treaty was drawn up nearly 40 years ago and much has changed since then. The health and safety provisions of Euratom, including Article 34, which deals with "dangerous experiments", are relatively weak, not surprisingly given the apparent lack of appreciation in the 1950s of the dangers of ionising radiation and the lack of emphasis on environmental issues in general. The possibility of a strengthening of the nuclear safety provisions of Euratom is of particular relevance in the light of the further enlargement of the EU.
Any amendment to the Euratom Treaty would require the unanimous agreement of all member states. This unanimity would be difficult to achieve given the opposition of certain member states to any review of Euratom and the lack of enthusiasm for revision.
Having regard to the obvious institutional and substantive difficulties facing us in seeking to have the Euratom Treaty amended, the Government is considering how to address the desirability of enhancing the health and safety provisions of the Euratom Treaty in the context of our EU Presidency.
