Bellona nuclear digest. July 2024
A survey of events in the field of nuclear and radiation safety relating to Russia and Ukraine.
News
Publish date: February 11, 2004
Written by: Hanne Bakke
News
The European Unions Court of Auditors focused attention on discrepancies between money disbursed and received by the EEA.
The EU-auditors leveled their criticism at how money was earmarked for various environmental renewal projects during the first 5-year period of the EEA agreementfrom 1994 to 1999. This is the same period during which Norway was annually donating NOK200m to EUs poorest countriesSpain, Portugal, Ireland and Greecefor environmental renewal projects.
The project of reconstructing the Dochiarou Monastery on the Athos Peninsula in Northeastern Greece stands out as a characteristic example: Building material and waste were dropped into the ocean and scattered into the environment. The expansion of Pireus harbour in the Port of Athens also caused immense damage to the environment when boulders were removed from the island of Salamis. So far, nothing has been done to correct the situation.
Demands of improvement
The gross misuse of funding was made public in the EUs Court of Auditors 2002 annual report, published October 8th last year, and presented to the European Parliament in December.
Earlier this month, Bellona was in the European Parliament obtain information on the matter, and it was clear that it is being taken seriously by Members of European Parliamentarians, or MEPs. Now the European Commission and the European Investment Bank, or EIB, are probing the environmental damage and evaluating how to ensure that the environment is respected during projects funded by the 3-member European Free Trade Association, or EFTA. Special attention will be focused on the environmental damage caused by the expansion of Pireus Harbour, the report says.
The EC is issuing a proposal to EFTA countries to tighten financial control and certification before exceptional amounts of money are disbursed. According to the Commission, there are no sufficient guidelines governing these disbursals. The Court of Auditors has, for instance, revealed a number of occasions where the disbursement of funding does not tally with figures from the beneficiary countries.
Truly disturbing
This is really disturbing information regarding the fact that Norway is about to divide about NOK10 bilion toEastern Europe during the next five years, Bellona President Frederic Hauge said. He added that if theres been a lack of control in the use of Norways annual NOK200m, it is frightening to think what may happen when Norway allocates NOK10 billion over the next five years.
Bellona calls on Norwegian authorities to collaborate with organizations that defend the environment in recipient countries so as to ensure that scandals of this nature are not repeated in the future.
Bellona has on several occasions tried to obtain strategy notes from Norways Ministry of Foreign affairs on how Norways money is to be spent, but has been rebuffed every time. We simply cannot get the information we need in order to make constructive input to strengthen the environment, he said. Quite a paradox, as the environment is top priority in the new EEA-agreement.
A survey of events in the field of nuclear and radiation safety relating to Russia and Ukraine.
Transport on the Northern Sea Route is not sustainable, and Kirkenes must not become a potential hub for transport along the Siberian coast. Bellona believes this is an important message Norway should deliver in connection with the Prime Minister's visit to China. In an open letter to Jonas Gahr Støre, Bellona asks the Prime Minister to make it clear that the Chinese must stop shipping traffic through the Northeast Passage.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has published a new report on its efforts to ensure nuclear safety and security during the conflict in Ukraine, with the agency’s director-general warning that the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station remains “precarious and very fragile.”
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.