European Commission left with no choice but to start legal
proceedings against France: Greenpeace
Brussels--9 October 1995--The report of the European Union's
scientific expedition to French Polynesia, leaked today by
Greenpeace, confirms that France is acting in breach of the
health and safety provisions of the EURATOM Treaty.
The report states clearly that the French authorities denied
access to all the environmental monitoring facilities at Moruroa;
access to Fangataufa was denied altogether (indeed, the French
authorities would not even confirm that there were facilities at
Fangataufa).
"This report shows that the French Government has clearly
breached the Euratom Treaty, leaving the European Commission no
choice but to formally decide to initiate legal proceedings
against France at its Wednesday meeting in Strasbourg," said
Louise Gale of Greenpeace's European Unit in Brussels.
"The French are making it impossible for the Commission to fulfil
its responsibilities under the EURATOM Treaty," she said.
"The only option open to the Commission is for it to decide to
open infringement proceedings against France, including a
requirement for France to halt further tests. Failure by the
Commission to act against France's breaches of the Treaty will
leave it exposed to legal action from member states and the
European Parliament."
The experts were sent to the territory for two weeks in order to
check on whether radioactivity monitoring by France complies with
European law. Article 35 of the EURATOM Treaty requires Member
States to establish facilities to monitor environmental
radioactivity and to allow the European Commission to have access
to these facilities and verify their operation.
The team's report, obtained by Greenpeace and released today [1]
notes that verification of those facilities which were visited
at Moruroa was not allowed and access to the environmental
monitoring facilities at Fangataufa was totally denied. Access
was also denied to military facilities at Faa'a. Because of this
the team concluded that "...it is impossible to give an
unreserved view on the efficiency and adequacy of the overall
surveillance system in place."
On Wednesday, the Commission will consider a report from
Commissioner Bjerregaard on the French testing issue and possible
infringement proceedings at its meeting in Strasbourg.
In addition to being denied the necessary access to verify
environmental monitoring issues, the Commission team were refused
information on the possible dangerous character of the nuclear
tests and possible additional safety measures taken which the
Commission has requested in relation to Article 34.[2] The team
reports that French authorities denied the Commission team
essential information on geological and hydrological aspects,
long-term prospects, exposures from atmospheric testing, follow-
up of possible health effects, restoration prospects for the
atolls.
For information: Louise Gale, Greenpeace EU Unit 32 2 280 1400
[1] SUMMARY REPORT OF VERIFICATION VISIT TO FRENCH POLYNESIA
UNDER THE TERMS OF ARTICLE 35 OF THE EURATOM TREATY, 18-29
September 1995, EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General XI,
Luxembourg, 3 October 1995, available from Greenpeace.
Please note: this report has been re-typed by Greenpeace as
release of the original document could disclose the source.
[2] A 10-page detailed legal briefing on French infringements
of the EURATOM Treaty is available on request from Greenpeace
International political unit: phone 00 31 20 523 6211
SCIENTIFIC REPORT CONFIRMS FRENCH BREACH OF EURATOM TREATY:
Cindy Baxter, Greenpeace Communications ++44 171 833 0600