TNAG-1497-FCO40-2055-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 105

GRS 800

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FM UKREP BRUSSELS

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 1803

OF 281424Z MAY 86

Likk 166

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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.

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