EUROPEAN URANIUM RESOURCES LTD V.EUU

The European Parliament Speaks

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This notice seems to be the latest OFFICIAL one.  Note especially the second paragraph under Commission reply, dated Jan 30, 2015.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 2014 - 2019

30.1.2015

Committee on Petitions

NOTICE TO MEMBERS

Subject: Petition 0273/2013 by Jack Igor (Slovak) on behalf of citizens of Slovakia, on call to stop uranium mining in Kosice, Slovakia

1. Summary of petition

The petitioner is turning to the EP for help in relation to the proposed plans by a Canadian company to launch a uranium mine. Greenpeace has launched a petition in 2008 which was signed by 113 000 citizens asking to stop this project which would harm the environment and public health. The nearby area belongs to the Protected Bird Zone.

2. Admissibility

Declared admissible on 6 November 2013. Information requested from Commission under Rule 216(6).

3. Commission reply, received on 30 January 2015

The Ministry of Economy of Slovakia and European Uranium Resources Ltd., the Canadian company, have signed in December 2012 a Memorandum of Understanding which defines the cooperation between them as regards the Kurišková uranium deposit.

The Memorandum provides that the company, currently undertaking a feasibility study and an environmental impact assessment, needs to demonstrate that the Kurišková deposit can be developed as an environmentally sustainable and commercially viable project. Furthermore, the Memorandum provides that, if the outcomes of the feasibility study and of the environmental impact assessment are positive, then the project will be able to advance, as anticipated by Slovakia's National Energy Strategy.

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United in diversity

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PE546.897v01-00

In accordance with Article 41 of the Euratom Treaty, persons and undertakings engaged in industrial activities listed in Annex II of that Treaty (which include uranium mining) must communicate to the Commission investment projects which fulfill the criteria laid down in Council Regulation (Euratom) No 2587/19991. Following this notification, the Commission proceeds to discuss with the investors all aspects of the project which relate to the objectives of the Euratom Treaty, including its secondary legislation in the field of radiation protection.

Uranium mining falls under the scope of Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation2. The Directive lays down requirements for the regulatory control of uranium mines and requires the highest level of control (i.e. licensing) for the exploitation and closure of these mines. In addition, it also contains detailed requirements on the health protection of workers working in these mines as well as members of the public living in their vicinity.

At this stage, the national authorities have not decided whether or not to go ahead with the project and no permit has been granted to the company to carry out mining activities in the Kurišková deposit. Should the project be approved and commence operation, the Commission may in the future visit the site to ensure compliance with Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty concerning the monitoring of environmental radioactivity and radioactive discharges. Such a verification visit can also take place before the site becomes operational in order to verify the 'baseline' monitoring programme.

The Commission wishes to point out that the responsibility to launch mining projects lies with national authorities, who have to ensure full compliance with all relevant EU and Euratom legislation. Planned activities at the uranium mine in Košice might have an impact on human health, the quality of the environment and the wildlife. The comprehensive set of EU and Euratom rules in place to evaluate the environmental impact of projects3, ensure the safety of facilities dealing with extractive waste4 and warrant the protection of human health, nature and biodiversity5 should be properly implemented to mitigate or avoid that impact.

Conclusions
The Commission closely follows the developments regarding this project.

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Council Regulation (Euratom) No 2587/1999 of 2 December 1999 defining the investment projects to be communicated to the Commission in accordance with Article 41 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, OJ L 315, 09.12.1999

Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom of 5 December 2013 laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation, and repealing Directives 89/618/Euratom, 90/641/Euratom, 96/29/Euratom, 97/43/Euratom and 2003/122/Euratom, OJ L 13, 17.01.2014

Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, OJ L 26, 28.01.2012

Directive 2006/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the management of extractive waste, OJ L 102, 11.4.2006

Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds; OJ L OJ L 20, 26.01.2010. Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora; OJ L 206, 22.7.1992

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The Commission is aware of the potential risks associated with uranium mining and the potential impacts of the project on the environment, human health and wildlife. The proper application of existing legislation should ensure that all precautions are taken in order to limit the impact on the environment and on public health of this kind of activity.

However, no breaches of EU or Euratom legislation can be identified or anticipated at this point in the development of the project, in particular because no permit has been granted yet.