Nuclear Stress Tests: ensuring the safety of our citizens and the integrity of the environment

"For the first time, we have a quite detailed analysis of the preparedness and safety of nuclear power plants against natural disasters or other external events in the EU and, to some extent, also in some neighbouring countries. Now we need to translate the results of this analysis into an ambitious and stable regulatory framework for the safe continuation of nuclear activity in Europe", underlined Amalia Sartori MEP, Chairwoman of the Industry, Research and Energy Committee of the European Parliament after the vote on the Stress Tests Resolution.

The Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan highlighted the need to re-evaluate the safety of existing reactors in Europe and to protect them against accidents which have been assessed as highly improbable. In March 2011, the European Council concluded that “the safety of all EU nuclear plants should be reviewed on the basis of a comprehensive and transparent risk and safety assessment." Stress tests were carried out as early as 2011 and 2012 by nuclear regulators.

The results of the stress tests are very important for the safety of citizens. With this Resolution on stress tests, the European Parliament asks the Commission to work together with the European Nuclear Safety Regulatory Group (ENSREG), Member States and nuclear power plant operators in order to anticipate and agree on a common approach to deal with security risks in particular, such as the risk of aircraft crashes (while acknowledging that the main competences in this field are with the Member States).

"We now expect the European Commission to respond to our questions in a timely manner by proposing a revised European framework on nuclear safety. It has to be ensured that those Member States that opted for nuclear energy as part of their energy mix, fully respect the safety of all EU citizens and the integrity of our environment", concluded Amalia Sartori MEP. For this reason, the European Parliament urged the European Commission and Member States to improve cross-border cooperation as well as cooperation with neighbouring countries on nuclear safety.