GRS 800
RESTRICTED
FM UKREP BRUSSELS
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1803
OF 281424Z MAY 86
Likk 166
RESTRICTED
RECEIV
29 MAY 1986
INDEX
aker
115
INFO ROUTINE COPENHAGEN,THE HAGUE, ROME, DUBLIN, PARIS, BONN INFO ROUTINE LUXEMBOURG, ATHENS, LISBON, MADRID, UKDEL OECD INFO ROUTINE UKMIS VIENNA
INFO SAVING BRUSSELS
FRAME GENERAL
CHERNOBYL : COMMISSION ACTIVITY
SUMMARY
1. COMMISSION PLAN TO ADOPT COMMUNICATION TO THE COUNCIL ON POSSIBLE EC ACTIONS POST-CHERNOBYL ON 4 JUNE, FOR A FIRST DISCUSSION AT 16/17 JUNE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL AND POSSIBLY TO BE TRAILED AT INFORMAL FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING ON 7/8 JUNE. A SHORTER COMMISSION PAPER FOR THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL WILL ISSUE IN THE LIGHT OF THOSE
DISCUSSIONS.
DETAIL
2. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO BURGHARDT (DELORS CABINET) ABOUT THE WORK WHICH THE COMMISSION HAVE IN HAND ON POSSIBLE EC ACTIONS POST-CHERNOBYL. WE SAID THAT WE WERE CONCERNED TO ENSURE THAT THE EC SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE MAIN PROBLEM, THE STRENGTHENING OF THE INTERNATIONAL REGIME AND, SECONDLY, THE FILLING IN OF GAPS IN THE EC REGIME. IT WOULD BE UNWISE FOR THE COMMISSION TO PURSUE
IRRELEVANCIES.
3. BURGHARDT SAID THAT THE PRIORITIES FOR THE COMMISSION'S PRESENT WORK WERE SET BY THE STATEMENTS OF THE 12 MAY FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL, THE 21 MAY IAEA GOVERNING BOARD AND THE VARIOUS DEMARCHES THEY HAD RECEIVED FROM INDIVIDUAL MINISTERS (EG. TINDEMANS AND KOHL). THEY ACCORDINGLY ENVISAGED EC ACTION IN FOUR AREAS (OVER
DIFFERENT TIMESCALES):
(1) PUBLIC HEALTH, INCLUDING IN PARTICULAR SAFETY STANDARDS. IN
THIS CONNECTION, DOUBTS HAD BEEN EXPRESSED ABOUT WHETHER THE ARTICLE 31 EURATOM PROCEDURES WERE TOO BURDENSOME, AND CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN TO USING ARTICLE 135 TO ENABLE THE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH ITS OWN SOURCE OF INDEPENDENT EXPERTISE. SEPARATELY, THE COMMISSION WERE EXAMINING THE INTRODUCTION OF AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON RADIATION LEVELS.
(11)
INTERNATIONAL ACTION, IN PARTICULAR STEPS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE EC ADOPTED A COMMON POSITION IN VIENNA.
(111) SAFETY OF NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REVIVE
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN NUCLEAR ENERGY.
(IV)
POSSIBLY, PROCEDURES TO PREPARE FOR ANY FUTURE CRISES.
RESTRICTED
14.
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