That was the verdict of three inspectors of the TREN-H4 Radiation Protection Unit of the EU’s Transport and Energy Directorate General.
Speaking to the Cyprus Mail, Panicos Demetriades, in charge of Radiation Inspection at the Labour Ministry, said the inspectors were on the island for the first time under article 35 of the EURATOM (European Atomic Energy Community) treaty, “which requires that each Member State shall establish facilities necessary to carry out continuous monitoring of the levels of radioactivity in air, water and soil and to ensure compliance with the basic safety standards. Article 35 also gives the European Commission the right of access to such facilities in order that it may independently verify their operation and efficiency.”
He went on to say that the inspections finished yesterday and were followed by a meeting with Labour Minister Christos Taliadoros.
“The inspectors had a look at our monitoring instrumentation, laboratories and network in general and they will now prepare a report for the European Commission. Their preliminary findings have proved to be satisfactory and the most important thing is that we have the monitoring system in place. Some improvements have of course been suggested and it’s an ongoing process.”
What is EURATOM?
THE TREATY establishing the European Atomic Energy Community is one of the founding treaties of the European Union. It was originally drafted in the 1950s and addresses the issues in the field of nuclear power that were relevant at that time. These include radiation protection of the work force and the public, the supply of nuclear fissile materials for the developing nuclear power sector, the safeguarding of this nuclear fissile materials to prevent it from being used for unauthorised military purposes and general aspects such as research and dissemination of information.
Under the provisions of the EURATOM Treaty, the European Commission acquired the status of a supranational regulatory authority in three areas: radiation protection, supply of nuclear fissile materials and nuclear safeguards. Of these, the former has clear relevance to the operation of all facilities handling radioactive substances, whether they are nuclear power plants, radioactive waste storages/disposal facilities or institutions outside the nuclear power sector such as research centres and hospitals. In all these facilities, certain EU-wide norms of limiting radiation exposure must be respected.
The Radiation Protection Unit covers the areas of exposure of the public, occupational exposure, emergency preparedness and response, natural radiation, medical exposure, environmental monitoring and assessment and education, information and training.
