Activites

• 1997/05/19 Final act published in Official Journal
• 1997/04/24 Debate in Parliament
  • T4-0214/1997 summary

    In adopting the report by Mrs AHERN (Green, Irl.), the European Parliament stressed that its limited involvement in the conclusion of this agreement was unacceptable and it called specifically on the Commission and Council to put right the non-involvement of Parliament in the conclusion of agreements concluded between EURATOM and third countries. It asks the Council to recognize Articles 203 of the EAEC treaty and 235 of the TEU as a relevant and valid legal base for consultation of Parliament on all matters relating to nuclear energy and reserves the right to use the provisions of Article 107a of the EAEC Treaty as a way of overcoming the democratic deficit in these areas. It also asks the Commission and Council to inform it of the action taken on its 1992 and 1996 resolutions on the outcome of the intergovernmental conferences and on how the demands and criteria laid down in its 1995 resolution on the conclusion of the US- EURATOM agreement are reflected in that agreement. It also asks the Commission to explain why parts of the agreement may remain in force after the end of its period of validity and to specify the consequences and implications of that fact. Reaffirming the belief it expressed in its April 1995 resolution that the development of sustainable energy sources is a more promising strategy to meet energy needs, it expresses the view that the International Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials is insufficient to provide a guaranteed assurance of a safe and uninterrupted shipment. It expresses concern that application of the IAEA transport safety standards to the exchange of nuclear materials covered by the agreements will permit transports of these materials to third countries and considers that the air transport of nuclear materials is unacceptable from an environmental and aircraft safety point of view. In conclusion, it demands that the Commission and Council inform Parliament fully and in good time of all current and forthcoming international negotiations in the nuclear technology field.

• 1997/02/27 Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • A4-0074/1997
• 1996/05/20 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 1996/04/25 Non-legislative basic document published
  • N4-0264/1996 summary

    OBJECTIVE: to conclude an agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation between EURATOM and the USA. CONTENT: the agreement seeks to establish cooperation between EURATOM and the United States in the field of nuclear energy with reference to the following points: . research and development; . nuclear safety; . exchanges and cooperation between persons and companies in the industrial and commercial sectors; . the reciprocal supply of nuclear or other materials and equipment and all services connected with the nuclear fuel cycle; . exchanges of information on the main problems posed by nuclear energy at international level; . controlled thermonuclear fusion etc. The agreement also provides for exchange of nuclear materials in the interests of their parties' respective industries and, where appropriate, between third countries and either of the two parties, subject to authorization and export and import licences. This cooperation is for peaceful purposes only and a protocol attached to the agreement details the peaceful objectives of the agreement: supplying electricity to a military base from an electricity grid or production of radio-isotopes for medical uses in a military hospital. In all events, nuclear or other materials transferred under this agreement and the fissile materials in question may not be used either to manufacture an explosive nuclear device or for research work into nuclear devices for military use. In addition, the annexes to the agreement include a declaration concerning non-proliferation policy in which the parties reaffirm their support for all measures to secure the non-proliferation of nuclear materials at worldwide level. The agreement will be valid for a period of thirty years from its entry into force and will be automatically renewed every five years unless terminated by one of the parties. Once the current agreement enters into force, the 1958 agreement between EURATOM and the USA will lapse, as will other bilateral agreements concluded between the USA and certain Member States.�

• #1864
• 1995/07/17 Council Meeting
  • 1864 summary

    On the basis of a report from the Presidency, the Council considered the issues still outstanding in respect of the agreement negotiated by the Commission with the United States on peaceful nuclear cooperation between Euratom and the United States. Concluding the discussion, the Council requested the Commission to make contact with the United States in order to reach the best possible agreement before the end of the month. The new agreement is to replace that dating from 1959/1960, in its amended form, which is due to expire at the end of the year.

Documents

• Debate in Council: 1864
• Non-legislative basic document published: N4-0264/1996
• Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A4-0074/1997
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0214/1997

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)