The Commission was quizzed on the safety of building work at the Ostrovets (Astravyets) nuclear power plant in Belarus in a plenary debate on Monday evening (6 June). Most MEPs raised concerns about its safety and compliance with international standards. MEPs asked the Commission whether the Ostrovets plant complied with EU nuclear safety rules and urged it to use all available instruments to ensure that the plant undergoes proper safety stress tests. The issue of safety of nuclear plants throughout Europe was highlighted. Many MEPs pointed to facilities in and around Europe operating beyond their planned lifespans. MEPs expressed broad concerns about the safety of the plant which is being built close to the Lithuanian capital. Many MEPs highlighted the cross-border nature of the issue with references to the Chernobyl disaster – and the difficulty of verifying reports of the risks around it.
EU Reporter 7th June 2016 read more »