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The resolution was voted in favor by 642 MEPs, 29 against and 21 abstentions. All on February 11. The resolution adopted by the European Parliament can be found here.
“The petition initiated by the Sąjūdis against the Astravas nuclear power plant, on the basis of which the resolution of the European Parliament appeared, is a particularly significant achievement of all civil society and the Sąjūdis established in Vilnius a year ago, demanding the safety from Lithuania and Europe.
Importantly, the resolution identifies the Astrava nuclear power plant as a geopolitical project between Belarus and Russia, and the power plant itself poses a threat to the EU and its member states in terms of safety, health and environmental issues. It can be said that a historic vote took place in Brussels, in which the threats posed by the Astravas nuclear power plant to Lithuania and Europe were named so clearly and precisely for the first time, ”says Petras Auštrevičius, MEP, president of the board of Sąjūdis v.
Photo by Lukas Balandis / 15min / Peter Auštrevičius
One of the authors of the petition initiated to the European Parliament, Arvydas Sekmokas, a member of the Sąjūdis board against the Astravas nuclear power plant, claims that the issue of an unsafe nuclear power plant has reached Brussels thanks to the civil society embodied by Sąjūdis against Astravas. NPP.
“Sometimes civil society can do more than the authorities. But it is too early to calm down. We will endeavor to have the unsafe Astrave nuclear power plant closed or moved to another safe place,” emphasizes A. Sekmokas.
“I am glad that the European Parliament is with us. This EU institution has always been closer to us on the most difficult issues: once the European Parliament was the first to support Lithuania’s accession negotiations to the EU , is now the first to express clear support for the Astrava power outage. However, now we will have to join forces to persuade both the European Commission and the Council of the EU to follow the lead of honest European politicians and support the freedom of Belarusians not only with nice words, but also with concrete actions, ”says Žygimantas Pavilionis, Member of the Board of Directors of Sąjūdis before the Astravas Nuclear Power Plant.
I am glad that the European Parliament is with us.
“This resolution adopted by the EP, which calls on Belarus not to start commercial activities at the Astrava nuclear power plant until the recommendations of the stress tests have been implemented throughout the EU, symbolizes European solidarity with Lithuanian civil society and his efforts in fighting the Monster of Astrava.
Even if this EP decision does not prevent Belarus from starting the planned commercial operation of the power plant in March, I hope that the resolution will in any case encourage the European Commission to take effective measures to stop the imports of dirty electricity into the EU and such. Maybe even encourage neighboring Latvian civil society to contribute to Lithuania. The EU-wide efforts to fully oppose this dangerous geopolitical project, “says Professor Herkus Gabartas, Board Member of the Sąjūdis v. Astravas Nuclear Power Plant.
Photo by Scanpix / Astravo Nuclear Power Plant
Lithuanian MPs ask to get rid of Astrava’s “monster”
Andrius Kubilius MEP said that the Astrava nuclear power plant is a threat to Lithuania’s national security.
“The Astrava nuclear power plant is a clear threat to our national security. We are not a big country, and in the event of a disaster we will have nowhere to run, where to hide (…) We are simply asking for your solidarity. We are going to get rid of this monster, “A. Kubilius urged his colleagues before the vote.
Managed by Cabbage / 15min photo / Andrius Kubilius
Bronis Rope MEP called on the European Commission to use at least the remaining opportunity to fight the Astrava project. According to him, although they had already called “several dozen times in various formats” to stop the construction of the plant, those requests were not echoed.
“Has the European Commission ever asked for the Astrava project to be stopped? It never seems so to me. Despite the demand from Lithuania, despite the demands of MEPs, despite the fact that the construction of the Astrava violated international conventions , Belarus did not perform the stress test results, despite all known and unknown incidents during construction. This is regrettable, “explained B. Rope.
Has the European Commission ever asked for the Astrava project to be stopped? It never seems that way to me.
“After all, the Commission has had several levers for serious negotiations this year,” he argued.
According to the politician, before the commercial operation of the nuclear power plant begins, the EC must hurry.
“The Commission still has one last chance to do its duty and demand the closure of the plant, at least until all the recommendations of the European Union stress test have been implemented. It is not enough that only some of them have been implemented. A security breach can create a new Chernobyl, “said the Lithuanian MEP.
However, in the EP plenary session, calls were heard for no haste. French MEP Thierry Marian acknowledged the need to comply with safety standards, but the resolution could hamper countries’ commitment to developing nuclear energy.
I think this resolution is being proposed too early, it goes against the policies of some states.
“I think this resolution is proposed too early, it goes against the policies of some countries, it wants to question the possibility of individual Member States choosing nuclear energy. (…) Yes, this plant must meet all the criteria security, so let’s wait and see what the experts who are now visiting the plant will say, ”said T. Marianis.
The European Commission undertakes to closely monitor the implementation of the project. Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy, said that a preliminary report on the peer review of the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) would be presented to ENSREG in early March.
“I would like to emphasize one thing: this preliminary report will be very important, but it will in no way mean the end of our involvement and determination to ensure the safety of the power plant. ENSREG and the Commission will closely monitor the implementation of the remaining recommendations and as soon as the conditions of the pandemic allow, the entire peer review team will visit Belarus to assess the remaining recommendations and publish a final report, “Samson said in the EP meeting.
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