International Law

EU summit conclusions

By Karl-Friedrich Lenz

From the conclusions of the European Council (24/25 March 2011):

27. The European Union will support Japan as it strives to overcome the challenges it faces after the earthquake and the tsunami that struck it with such tragic consequences.

28. Following an initial request from the Japanese government, it is mobilising relief supplies for the affected population. It stands ready to provide further support if requested. More generally, the EU is interested in developing its cooperation with Japan on disaster relief.

29. The European Union commends the swift and decisive action taken by the Japanese authorities in response to disorders on financial markets. It welcomes the action taken by the G7 on the yen. It stands ready to cooperate fully with Japan to address the economic and financial consequences of these events, including in the framework of the G8 and the G20.

30. Looking to the future, the European Council reiterates the strategic importance of the EU/Japan relationship. The forthcoming summit must be used to strengthen this relationship and bring forward our common agenda, including through the potential launch of negotiations for a free trade agreement on the basis that Japan is willing to tackle inter alia the issue of non tariff barriers and restrictions on public procurement.

31. In this connection, the European Council stresses the need to fully draw the lessons from these events, and to provide all necessary information to the public. Recalling that the energy mix is the competence of Member States, it calls for work to be taken forward as a matter of priority on the following aspects:

- the safety of all EU nuclear plants should be reviewed, on the basis of a comprehensive and transparent risk and safety assessment (“stress tests”); the European Nuclear Safety Regulatory Group (ENSREG) and the Commission are invited to develop as soon as possible the scope and modalities of these tests in a coordinated framework in the light of lessons learned from the accident in Japan and with the full involvement of Member States, making full use of available expertise (notably from the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association); the assessments will be conducted by independent national authorities and through peer review; their outcome and any necessary subsequent measures that will be taken should be shared with the Commission and within the ENSREG and should be made public; the European Council will assess initial findings by the end of 2011, on the basis of a report from the Commission;

- the priority of ensuring the safety of nuclear plants obviously cannot stop at our borders; the EU will request that similar “stress tests” be carried out in the neighbouring countries and worldwide, regarding both existing and planned plants; in this regard full use should be made of relevant international organisations;

- the highest standards for nuclear safety should be implemented and continuously improved in the EU and promoted internationally;

- the Commission will review the existing legal and regulatory framework for the safety of nuclear installations and will propose by the end of 2011 any improvements that may be necessary. Member States should ensure the full implementation of the Directive on the safety of nuclear installations. The proposed Directive on the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste should be adopted as soon as possible . The Commission is invited to reflect on how to promote nuclear safety in neighbouring countries;

- consequences for the world and for the EU need to be closely monitored, paying particular attention to the volatility of energy and commodity prices, in particular in the context of the G20.”

Notably absent from this declaration is a specific notification of “experts, equipment and materials which could be made available” to deal with the nuclear crisis under Article 2 Paragraph 4 of the “Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency.”

As a consequence of this failure, there are no EU assets on site in Fukushima. The most important need for assistance is met with absolutely zero (as far as I know) two weeks out.

The EU did send some blankets, however.

Full post as published by Lenz Blog on March 28, 2011 (boomark / email).