11/07/2003

Euratom out of EU Convention

Friends of the Earth Europe & Greenpeace PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDIUM RETREAT LEAVES EURATOM IN LIMBO

Brussels, July 10 2003 - Today, the Presidium of the European Convention stepped back from its
original proposal to include the EURATOM treaty in the future EU Constitution. "This is a recognition that the EURATOM treaty is so outdated and undemocratic that it has no place in a modern Constitution", said Mark Johnston of Friends of the Earth Europe.

In a reversal of an earlier Presidium proposal, the Convention has, in the final text, adopted a key amendment that would in effect position Euratom as a separate legal personality from the rest of the European Union.

The move recognises the growing opposition to the promotion of nuclear energy via the EURATOM treaty and paves the way for further marginalisation of EURATOM in the future. The two environmental groups believe that now Member States could step out of EURATOM without having to leave the EU
altogether.

However this construction keeps the status quo, which forces all Member States to participate in the promotion of nuclear power. "The upcoming intergovernmental conference (IGC) should agree the complete abolition of Euratom. Retaining nuclear promotion in the primary law risks
greater unpopularity of the EU amongst its citizens." said Bridget Woodman of Greenpeace European Unit. "The Euratom Treaty now exists in limbo. It is not supported by many Member States who have rejected the nuclear option.
Promoting an uncompetitive, dirty and dangerous technology is not part of the new Europe. The time has clearly come for this outdated agreement to be scrapped."

For further details, please contact:

Bridget Woodman, Greenpeace European Unit at +32 2 274 19 12
Mark Johnston, Friends of the Earth-Europe at +44 797 331 92 49

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