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TERRITORY
AND NUCLEAR FACILITIES The
decisions on energy policies have economic implications which were one of the
reasons for the simultaneous birth of the European Union and, as an initiative
to obtain mass production of energy at a low cost, of EURATOM. A
25 per cent of the total energy produced in Europe has nuclear origin. That
implies the presence of this kind of facilities in a significant part of our
territory. The deployment of these facilities has followed, generally, the
American model, they had been set in rural areas, near hydraulic resources, far
away of populated or potential developing areas. As
of today, the use or nuclear energy remains controversial due, in part, to
security concerns and the lack of a definitive solution to the waste disposal
issue. Our
society is engaged in a permanent round of debates in order to achieve consensus
in the processes of democratic decision making, this is being emphasized, if
possible, in the emerging model of knowledge society. The keys are public
participation and transparency, especially when these processes affect the
environment or the future of our citizens. The
activities of the nuclear facilities, including the ones related to waste
disposal, had been carried upon according to the 89/618 Euratom’s directive on
the risks of radioactive facilities’ information to the population. This
directive has been applied and developed in different ways by each one of the
states member of the EU. In
the Spring of 1993 we started to coordinate the efforts of different European
municipalities located in near nuclear facilities in order to look at, and
increase the weight of our municipalities in, the decision making processes of
the European Union that affect our territories and people. |
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Our
efforts had led to the identification of our common main concerns: -
The information, especially to the population as a basic element for improving
their capacity to get knowledge on nuclear issues. -
The future of our municipalities after a nuclear plant shutdown. Our idea is
getting enough economical capacity for our municipalities in order to promote
some kind of alternative economical development, before the replacement of the
nuclear plant arrives. -
The issue of nuclear waste, in particular, their future and their definitive
storage. - Last but not least, we want to increase the participation of our municipalities in the decision making process as a guaranty of respect to the principles of local democracy. |
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Our
commitments are: ·
Defending and ensuring that European nuclear municipalities take
part in the existing discussion forums and in the processes of decision
making that are being carried out in the European Union. ·
Having information exchanged among its members about the nuclear
reality in every European country and about municipal experiences in
relation to territorial arrangement, economic development and civil
protection. ·
Carrying out future projects with the participation of all or
part of its members in order to favour their integration in the European
Union. · Organising annual encounters so that European municipal authorities can gather and exchange information. These encounters will also aim at improving the knowledge of the elected by the majority about nuclear reality in Europe, its safety and its future. |
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