To the best of our knowledge, the natural disaster in Japan have no effect on Europe’s population whatsoever, said Minister for Rural Development, Sándor Fazekas, before the Environmental Protection Council’s session in Brussels, on 14 March 2011. Previously, the Hungarian Presidency reiterated its sympathy to the families and relatives of the victims.

Minister for Rural Development, Sándor Fazekas, opened the meeting of Ministers for Rural Development by expressing the Hungarian Presidency’s sympathy, on 14 March 2011. Two days before, Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, also extended his sympathy to the Japanese, on starting his joint press conference in Budapest with Herman von Rompuy, President of the European Council; and János Martonyi, offered condolences on behalf of the Council, before the meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs, on 11 March in Gödöllő.

Europe is in no danger

“To the best of our knowledge, the events have no effect on Europe’s population whatsoever. According to the Commission’s communication yesterday. No irregular radiation was detected in any member state,” said Mr Fazekas, before the session.
The Commission referred to data measured by its experts in Luxemburg on 12 March. Specifically, radiation levels are normal in every Member State.

At the request of the Hungarian Presidency, the Commission gave detailed information on the events, at the Environmental Protection Council’s session on 14 March. The Commission gave an account of the activation of the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism, and a member of the Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC), has already gone to Japan. At the same time, the Pacific insular country has only called for more medical equipment, but has not yet asked for assistance in finding victims.

Right after the disaster, the Presidency convened the competent Council working party (Working Party on Atomic Questions), and Günther Oettinger, European Commissioner for Energy, will meet representatives of nuclear safety authorities and the operators of nuclear power plants from all 27 Member States on 15 March 2011, to inform them on the Commission’s measures.

Presidency supporting fast decision-making

The Commission’s 13 March communication highlights that Member States are responsible for the safe operation of nuclear power plants, and the decision on the use of nuclear energy as an energy source by any country falls within national competence. At present, 14 member states use nuclear energy.

At the same time, the safety standards of nuclear power plant operation, are regulated by the European Union’s nuclear safety directive of 1996, which is now under review. The Commission will submit its related proposal in April. Besides, in 2009 a framework directive was adopted on the safety requirements of nuclear installations, which enhances the development of the appropriate national regulations by laying down common minimum principles.

The Hungarian Presidency will decide on the Council’s further steps in consideration of this information, said Mr Fazekas, before the Council’s session. “If necessary, the Hungarian Presidency is ready to provide all assistance needed for a fast decision”, underlined the Hungarian Minister for Rural Development.