By Anna McLauchlin - 6th February 2004
A package of EU laws on nuclear safety has stalled after four member states failed to back them on Thursday.
Four member states are unhappy with the three proposals known as the 'nuclear package' and are set to form a blocking minority in a formal vote planned for March.
But the European Commission has now said it will redraft and present a new proposal in early April.
The package, which covers nuclear safety, radioactive waste and funding for nuclear power plants, has already been redrafted several times since its release in November 2002.
Nuclear industry sources are divided as to why the commission has withdrawn the current drafts.
One said that Brussels wants to "cling on to the proposals" at any cost as failure to get a positive vote would be seen as a defeat for energy commissioner Loyola de Palacio, a staunch supporter of the package.
But delaying the vote by few months could also be aimed at putting pressure on the countries opposing the package.
The four opponents – Germany, the UK, Sweden and Finland - may not have a blocking minority when the EU enlarges to 25 countries in May.
And another industry source even speculated the commission may threaten to toughen up the package to persuade the blocking countries to back the current draft.
The four member states oppose the new safety rules over fears that they will undermine national regulators better equipped to control nuclear plant safety.
They also claim there is no need to replace the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has worldwide jurisdiction for regulating nuclear safety.
Germany in particular thinks the proposed laws do not sufficiently clarify rules on what should be done with decommissioning funds.
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