EU MUST NOT ALLOW SLOVAKIA TO RESTART EXTREMELY DANGEROUS NUCLEAR REACTOR AT JASLOVSKE BOHUNICE:
The Spokespersons of the European Green Party have called for immediate and effective action by the EU to prevent Slovakia from restarting the notoriously dangerous nuclear reactor at Jaslovske Bohunice, a reactor which was shut down as a condition of Slovakia's accession to the EU in 2004.
EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek, who is also an Austrian MP and is Vice-President of the Greens in the Austrian Parliament, said: "This reckless decision by the Slovak government is causing great concern, not only in neighbouring Austria but throughout Europe, because the plant at Jaslovske Bohunice is considered to be one of the three most dangerous nuclear facilities in Europe. Reactivating it would put people in danger and there can be no justification for it. As many Greens feared, the current gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine has been used by the Slovak government as an excuse to reopen a plant which was shut down as a condition of Slovakia's entry into the EU in 2004. This is completely unacceptable and the EU must take strong action to ensure that Slovakia is not allowed to put the lives of millions of EU citizens at risk."
EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts continued: "We understand that this decision will be discussed as a matter of urgency at the meeting of EU energy ministers in Brussels today. We urge the EU member states and the Commission to take strong action on this issue and not to bow to Slovakian demands for the EU to allow the plant to be reopened because of the energy shortage caused by the dispute between Russia and Ukraine. Our colleagues in the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament will ensure that this matter is discussed during the Parliament's session in Strasbourg this week. Our member party in Slovakia, the Slovak Green Party (Strana Zelenych), are also very much opposed to the Slovak government's decision and will be campaigning against it. "
