Urgent question by Giorgos Georgiou sent to the European Commission on the danger posed by Akkuyu
Press release of the Office of AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou
29 July 2019
Urgent question by Giorgos Georgiou sent to the European Commission on the danger posed by Akkuyu
“It has been repeatedly reported by world-renowned seismologists that Akkuyu, located on the coast of Turkey opposite Cyprus, lies on a seismic site and that a nuclear reactor must not under any circumstances be constructed there. So far, Turkey has been stubbornly refusing to inform Cyprus, Greece and other neighbouring countries, as required by international practices, about any future development regarding the work on the plant.
In addition, the political instability in the wider geographic region of the eastern Mediterranean, coupled with Turkey’s given weakness, a country with insufficient technology and expertise on nuclear matters, to respond in the event of an accident, creates an explosive mixture. That is why I have asked from the European Commission to plan a new control Mission to Cyprus (as was done in 2015) with regards the reassessment/updating of the need for regulations/arrangements to monitor radiation in the event of a state of emergency in Akkuyu.”
This is what MEP Giorgos Georgiou pointed out after an urgent written question was sent to the European Commission on 26/07/2019 in view of new press reports in the international media that cracks have appeared in the foundations on which the nuclear reactor will be built next year at Akkuyu.
In his question, the AKEL MEP also asked the European Commission whether it understands in practice the adverse cross-border environmental impact of the relevant project and especially the concerns expressed in both Cyprus and Greece as to the proximity of the station to these countries. He also asked to be informed about what steps the European Commission had taken to prevent the construction of the nuclear power plant and to exert pressure on the Turkish government to sign the Espoo Convention, according to which the Turkish government must cooperate or at least consult with the neighbouring countries, such as Greece and Cyprus, for any future development on the station’s work.
