Answers by UK Labour Party

You requested information on the Labour Party's position on the closure of "high risk" nuclear reactors in Central and Eastern Europen countries that are applying for membership of the European Union.

The Labout Government is keen for nuclear safety to be given priority in the Accession Partnership process and fully supports the conclusions adopted by the European Council last December. THese offer help to the candidate states with the aim of ensuring that their technological and operational safety levels are aligned with current practice in the EU.

For reactors which cannot be upgraded to internationally accepted levels of safety at a reasonable cost, the conclusions of the EU Council call for agreement on energy strategies that provide for their "earliest practicable closure". The Labour Government believes that the reactors at Ignalia 1-2 (Lithuania), Kozloduy 1-4 (Bulgaria) and Bohunice 1-2 (Slovakia) fall into that category and that, consistent with the EU Council conclusions, the process of EU enlargement should be used to reach agreement on timetables for their "earliest practicable closure".

Yours sincerely,

Nick Sigler

International Secretary.