Motion for a resolution | Doc. 12600 | 19 April 2011

Towards a new energy strategy in Europe

Author(s): several Assembly members

Signatories: Sir Alan MEALE, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Gagik BAGHDASARYAN, Armenia, ALDE ; Ms Giuliana CARLINO, Italy, ALDE ; Mr Jim DOBBIN, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Miljenko DORIĆ, Croatia, ALDE ; Mr Joseph FALZON, Malta, EPP/CD ; Mr Andreas GROSS, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Jim HOOD, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Francine JOHN-CALAME, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Cecilia KEAVENEY, Ireland, ALDE ; Mr Aleksei LOTMAN, Estonia, UEL ; Ms Christine MARIN, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Bernard MARQUET, Monaco, ALDE ; Ms Carina OHLSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS, Greece, UEL ; Mr John PRESCOTT, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Rovshan RZAYEV, Azerbaijan, EPP/CD ; Mr Samad SEYIDOV, Azerbaijan, EDG ; Mr Nikolay SHAKLEIN, Russian Federation, EDG ; Mr Jim SHERIDAN, United Kingdom, SOC

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

The Parliamentary Assembly deplores the consequences of the recent nuclear accident in Japan in the Fukushima Daiichi power plant following the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011. It commiserates with the families of the more than 10,000 victims of this tragedy and welcomes the efforts of its member States in providing financial, humanitarian and technical assistance to Japan..

The Assembly believes that Europe cannot be considered as safe from similar disasters. Old VVER-type reactors in active nuclear power stations and several power plants situated in seismic zones are of concern in Europe.

As we approach the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl, the consequences of which still require common international action to seal the plant from possible long-term radiation, the Assembly strongly supports the initiative of the European Commissioner on Energy to conduct a safety and stress review of all European Union nuclear plants of risks, such as earthquakes, flooding, plane crashes, cyber or terrorist attacks, cooling systems and their stability and local electricity supply failure. It calls on all Council of Europe member States non-members of the European Union to join this initiative.

It calls upon member states to hasten their transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, necessary not only because of depletion of resources and prevention of climate change, but also to avert accidents of this kind. It reaffirms the human right to a healthy and sustainable environment, imperilled by such assaults on the environment.

Therefore, the Assembly considers that a joint European energy strategy should be drawn up to:

• ensure nuclear safety, including nuclear waste management;
• find a balance between traditional and renewable energy sources;
• develop scientific research on energy efficiency and energy saving;
• create the necessary legislative framework for the investment in renewable and sustainable energy and energy storage.