As the future of nuclear power comes under scrutiny, MEPs this month looked at the question of decommissioning out-of-date power stations. Most of the experimental nuclear facilities built between 1950 and 1980 are now obsolete and the annual cost of taking plants out of service is running at more than €1 billion per year.
Furthermore, as enlargement discussions get underway, Giles Chichester (Devon and East Plymouth, EPP) wants the question of decommissioning nuclear power stations to be high on the list of priorities to be addressed. There are some 21 nuclear power plants in the applicant states from Eastern Europe either already in service or approaching completion.
While Mr Chichester is committed to the continuation of nuclear power in some form, he does want to see Western expertise used to ensure that plants in Eastern Europe coming to an end of their natural life cycle are taken out-of-service using the latest techniques and with observance of the highest possible safety standards.
For example, dismantling these stations involves a risk of radiation exposure amongst the workers concerned. One way of reducing the risk would be to use remote handling equipment.
Other MEPs such as Eryl McNally (Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes, PES), however do not see a future for nuclear power at all.
In addition, MEPs this month approved a Commission proposal designed to resolve a long running dispute involving scientists at the JET thermonuclear project at Culham, Oxfordshire in the UK, who were paid less than colleagues undertaking similar work, but employed by the EU's nuclear arm Euratom.
The Commission proposal follows a Court ruling in favour of the British workers but although it provides for equal treatment for the recruitment of new staff, it does not cover existing personnel. In other words, it may solve the question of unlawful discrimination but does not address the compensation claims of the present British workforce which is to be taken up in a new Court action.