Doc. 8968

5 February 2001

Removal of the British nuclear–propelled submarine "Tireless" from Gibraltar

Written Declaration No. 317

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

      The British nuclear-propelled submarine Tireless had a breakdown in the refrigeration system of one of its engines in April 2000 when it was travelling in the Mediterranean Sea. In May it called at the port of the British Colony of Gibraltar and it is still tied up there, without repairs having started yet, as the breakdown turned out to be more serious than expected and because the aforesaid port was not – and is still not – equipped for such a task.

      The concern and anxiety of the twenty-five thousand of Gibraltar and more than two-hundred thousand Spanish citizens residing in the communities around Gibraltar (the so-called Gibraltar area), have increased during the last eight months and led to many mass demonstrations, the last one of which was on 20 January, involving from 60.000 to 70.000 persons.

      Even if the risk for the environment and for the safety of human health involved by the repair and the re-starting of the above-mentioned nuclear engine is not particularly important, the population concerned, with the support of 80 % of all Spaniards according to public opinion polls, nevertheless demands that the Tireless be removed to a UK base that is technically equipped for the repair and located far away from areas of human population.

      The undersigned, members of the Parliamentary Assembly, therefore demand the removal of Tireless in safe conditions and with the necessary technical assurances for its repair.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : ¹

Yáñez-Barnuevo, Spain, SOC

Agudo, Spain, SOC

Akçali, Turkey, EDG

Alis Font, Andorra, SOC

Arnau, Spain, SOC

Bársony, Hungary, SOC

Bonet Casas, Andorra, LDR

Čekuolis, Lithuania, LDR

Cherribi, Netherlands, LDR

Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR

De Puig, Spain, SOC

Dokle, Albania, SOC

Dolazza, Italy, LDR

Ehrmann, France, LDR

Elo, Finland, SOC

Err, Luxemburg, SOC

Gamzatova, Russia, UEL

González de Txabarri, Spain, EPP

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Guardans, Spain, LDR

Hadjidemetriou, Cyprus, SOC

Herczog, Hungary, SOC

Hoeffel, France, PPE

Iwinski, Poland, SOC

Kovalev N, Russia, SOC

López González, Spain, SOC

Luís, Portugal, SOC

Martelli, Italy, EPP

Naumov, Russia, LDR

Pinggera, Italy, EPP

Robol, Italy, EPP

Roseta, Portugal, EPP

Slutsky, Russia, SOC

Squarcialupi, Italy, SOC

Turini, Italy, EDG

Urbanczyk, Poland, SOC

Varela i Serra, Spain, LDR

____________________

Total = 37

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group