17 May 1999

Mr. Jean-Claude Pasty
Co-Chair of the Group Union for Europe
European Parliament/LEO 8E130
Rue Wiertz
1047 Brussels

Dear Mr Pasty ,

Greenpeace questionnaire for the 1999 European Parliament elections

Greenpeace is currently campaigning for the immediate closure of "high-risk", or non-upgradable, nuclear reactors in Central and Eastern European Countries that are applying for membership of the European Union. These reactors are the two Ignalina units in Lithuania; Bohunice V1 in Slovakia; and Kozloduy 1-4 in Bulgaria. The continued operation of these reactors is a grave threat to the whole of Europe and a source of great concern to European populations.

The current proposals for the Enlargement of the European Union bring new opportunities to see the rapid and permanent closure of these reactors. The Parliament can play a fundamental role in achieving this aim. As such, we are asking all candidates in the 1999 European Parliament elections to state their position on this issue by responding to this questionnaire. We are also writing to the heads of all the Parties and Groups seeking their response. It is for this reason that we have written to you. We intend to publish the results on the Greenpeace website* so that voters will have accurate information about the positions of various parties on this important issue.

Greenpeace is asking you to send your responses to this questionnaire to us no later than Monday 31st May, so that we can make them available to voters well in advance of election day.

We look forward to your early response.

Yours sincerely,

Ben Pearson
Nuclear Campaign
Greenpeace International


* please be assured that we will not alter or edit your replies. They will be published on our website in full.

• Do you support rapid closure of "high-risk" reactors in line with the conditions put forward in the national and international agreements?
  
  
• Do you believe that EU funding sources such as Euratom and the EU Fusion budget should be redirected towards closing "high-risk" reactors, and subsequent decommissioning and waste management?
  
  
• Do you believe that the EU should insist that definite closure dates for Ignalina and Kozloduy 1-4 must be agreed with Lithuania and Bulgaria before it begins formal negotiations with them on EU membership? (please note that the decision whether to open
  negotiations will be taken at the European Council meeting in Helsinki in December)
  
  
• Do you believe that the Slovakian Government must reinstate the 1994 decree that Bohunice V1 would be closed by 2000 before formal negotiations on membership of the EU begin? (please note that the decision whether to open negotiations will be taken at the European Council meeting in Helsinki in December)
  
  
• Do you believe that there should be a specific prohibition on using EU funds to extend the life of Soviet-designed units beyond their design lifetime?
  
  
• Do you support the Austrian proposal for reform of the Euratom Treaty (please see enclosed briefing)?