During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 February 2021), the MEPs debate the Oral question on the safety of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (Belarus). Opening session by Author and by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

debate

plenary session

EU - Belarus (T)

evaluation of safety risks of nuclear power plants (T)

BUŞOI, Cristian-Silviu (EPP, RO)

nuclear safety

nuclear energy

nuclear power station

SIMSON, Kadri (EE, EC)

Safety of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets (Belarus) - Oral question: Opening statements by Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), author and by Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), European Union, both within and beyond its external borders, Ostrovets nuclear power plant located 50 kilometres from Vilnius in Lithuania and in proximity to other EU countries such as Poland, Latvia and Estonia, started generating electricity on the 3rd of November 2020, despite multiple remaining safety concerns and without evidence of the degree of the implementation of the recommendations by the EU peer review of 2018 and by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), The review, carried out by the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group, published its report in July 2018 and called on the Belarusian authorities to develop a national action plan issued in order to ensure the timely implementation of all safety recommendations identified in the peer review report. The further peer review process is ongoing, and [...] will complete and publish its findings in the coming months.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), I would like to emphasise that the preliminary report should be transmitted to Belarus already before March, when the commercial start of the plant is scheduled by the Belarusian authorities. At the same time, we express our dissatisfaction about the hasted commercial start of the plant. The nuclear power plant of Ostrovets. It should not start its operation until it has been demonstrated that it fully complies with the highest international, environmental and nuclear safety standards.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), It is imperative that nuclear safety standards are given the highest priority not only during the planning and construction, but also during the operation of the plant and must be constantly overseen by an independent regulator. To that end, we can call on the Commission ENSREG to continue with the transparent and attentive review of the Ostrovets plants.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), We should insist on the implementation of all safety recommendations and we need also to ensure effective monitoring of the implementation process, including regular visits by the EU peer review team to Ostrovets during the operation of the facility. In that regard, I would like to stress the importance of effective cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), We also recall the European Council conclusions of 10 and 11 of December 2020, and we support the efforts to investigate possible measures preventing commercial electricity imports from third countries nuclear facilities that do not fulfil European Union recognised safety levels. At the same time, we also stress the strategic importance of accelerating the synchronisation of the Baltic electricity grid with the continental European network.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), The future operation of the Ostrovets nuclear power plant should not in any way hinder the desynchronisation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from the BRELL Network. The European Union should continue the integration of the three Baltic states into the EU electricity grid. We also express our full solidarity with Belarusian citizens and the citizens of EU countries directly concerned by the construction and operation of the Ostrovets plant and we call for a further high level involvement of the European Union and its institutions in this issue of ultimate European importance.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Finally, I would like to invite the European Commission to answer the questions submitted by the ITRE Committee and keep us informed of all future developments. Would like to have a very good dialogue between European Parliament and ITRE Committee in special with the European Commission.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI (EPP, RO), Until now, we had an excellent cooperation on this issue and excellent dialogue with Commissioner Kadri Simson. And I would like to thank her and her team for their openness and for all the information that was provided to ITRE Committe, to ITRE members about this issue. It is an issue of concern for for us, for many colleagues in the European Parliament. And this is why this debate would like to hear from European Commissioner answers to our specific questions. Thank you so much.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Honourable members of the European Parliament. I am very happy to have this opportunity to come to the plenary and inform you about the actions the Commission has been taking to ensure the safety of the nuclear power plant of Ostrovets in Belarus.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Today's debate is very timely. Just yesterday, the Dean of nuclear safety experts from the Commission and from the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group [...] has concluded a visit on the site of the power plant. And this visit is a key part of the ongoing peer review process. The Commission together with Interreg has worked swiftly to set up the peer review team and negotiate their schedule for conducting the review before the planned commercial start of the nuclear power plant, including a plant visit.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy,: [00:05:25] ean of nuclear safety experts from the Commission and from the European Nuclear Safety Regulators [00:05:30][5.2] The first phase of the initiative foreseen for December 2020, has begun at the end of January, after the technical desk review carried remotly on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, a team of seven Interreg and commissioned experts carried out the first phase mission to verify physicalities implementation of measures at Ostrovets plant.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy,: [00:05:25] ean of nuclear safety experts from the Commission and from the European Nuclear Safety Regulators [00:05:30][5.2] The team consists of senior experts from different member states, Ukraine and the Commission. The team has a strong expertise in the key areas of peer review and is fully independent, making its conclusions on the adequacy and implementation of safety recommendations by Ostrovets nuclear power plant operator and Belarusian authorities.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy,: [00:05:25] ean of nuclear safety experts from the Commission and from the European Nuclear Safety Regulators [00:05:30][5.2] The experts will now complete the preliminary report. This report will be then submitted to the plenary meeting of ENSREG at the beginning of the March for endorsement. Once approved, the report will be published. This process is set to guarantee credible, independent and robust technical review of the situation. Therefore, at this point in time, pending the completion of ENSREG review procedures, it will not be appropriate for me to comment on the ongoing independent work by the senior nuclear safety experts and prejudge the findings in their report.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy,: [00:05:25] ean of nuclear safety experts from the Commission and from the European Nuclear Safety Regulators [00:05:30][5.2] I believe that all sides should refrain from commenting on the results of the mission at this stage. As I said, ENSREG will publish a preliminary report for full transparency. Let me stress one thing that this preliminary report will be very important, but in any case, it will not be for us the end of our involvement and our commitment to the full safety of the plant.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy,: [00:05:25] ean of nuclear safety experts from the Commission and from the European Nuclear Safety Regulators [00:05:30][5.2] The Commission will continue to follow closely the implementation of the remaining recommendations and once the pandemic conditions allow the full review team, we need to visit Belarus to access the remaining recommendations. At that time, they will prepare a final report for endorsement by INTERREG and subsequent publication.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy,: [00:05:25] ean of nuclear safety experts from the Commission and from the European Nuclear Safety Regulators [00:05:30][5.2] This brings me to the second question raised by Parliament. The Commission cleared position that all safety recommendations should be addressed by Belarus without delay. For this reason, I wrote to Prime Minister of Belarus on 6th November 2020 requesting that the Belarusian government make sure that all the steps in the Commission process are taken in full respect of the highest safety standards and that the stress test recommendations of high priority plans are implemented as a minimum before commercial operations start.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Let me be clear in line with international law, the decision on whether to grant the licence for commercial operations to Ostrovets plant lies within the Belarusian authorities and the ultimate responsibility for the safety of the plant remains that of the operator under the supervision of the national nuclear regulator. The Commission is using all its diplomatic and policy means to ensure a constructive cooperation from Belarus and ask that any decisions on commercialisation is taken based on guarantees for the highest level of safety.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, In the current difficult political situation,the technical cooperation within with Belarus on the completion of this exercise represents the last remaining channel from obtaining accurate, up to date knowledge of the safety situation in Ostrovets. As I said, our commitment will not stop after the first mission. In addition to cooperation on the completion of the instrument peer review, the Commission is seeking to open a new account with Belarus for maintaining contacts at the nuclear safety area through encouraging rapid involvement of Belarus in the EU's accident notification system and its formal participation in the European Radiological Data Exchange platform.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, In agreement, this [...]. We are also ready to offer technical support to the Belarusian nuclear safety authorities under the future European Instrument for International Nuclear Safety Cooperation, building on the project's, carried out under the existing instrument for nuclear safety cooperation. But while we are willing to step up cooperation, the Commission remains vigilant and stands ready to apply increased pressure, should we see that the high priority recommendations have not been satisfactorily implemented.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Well, these are not all the elements that I wanted to set up in reply to your questions. But because of time limit and given this evolving situation, I want to offer my own and readiness to return to the Parliament, either in writing or in plenary. To write to the honourable members with an update, then the technical outcome of the peer review mission will be available. And on other matters related to the safety of Ostrovets and synchronisation process of Baltic states. Thank you for your attention.