[CPEO-MEF] RADIATION, MUNITIONS: Europe opposes uranium weapons

[Lenny Siegel <lennysiegel@gmail.com>]

Press Release
European Parliament
May 22, 2008

Parliament calls for a global ban on depleted uranium weapons
Security and defence

In a resolution adopted on depleted uranium (DU) weapons, the House 
calls for a moratorium on their use, increased pressure for an 
international treaty to ban them, and more research on these weapons. 
The resolution "strongly reiterates its call on all EU Member States and 
NATO countries to impose a moratorium on the use of depleted uranium 
weapons and to redouble efforts towards a global ban." The resolution 
was adopted with 491 votes in favour, 18 against and 12 abstentions.

Depleted uranium is used in ammunition, to increase the strength of 
casings for penetrating armour. Upon impact, however, the depleted 
uranium can be dispersed in the form of DU dust, which can cover large 
areas of conflict zones, and have averse health effects both for 
soldiers and civilians, even long after the conflict is over.

The Parliament addressed an oral question to both the Commission and the 
Council on the subject. Annemie Neyts (ALDE, BE), one of the question's 
authors, asked "what specific measures can be taken to halt exposure to 
such DU for both soldiers and civilians?" Another author, Ana Gomes 
(PES, PT) noted that "the most basic cautionary principle should get us 
to stop manufacturing such weapons."

The Council presidency replied that since no consensus exists on this 
topic in the Council, there's not much it can do at this juncture. 
Commissioner Louis Michel noted that military issues of this nature lie 
outside the competence of the European Commission, but expressed his 
willingness to conduct a study to re-examine the effects of DU exposure 
on human health. He also noted that the Commission does fund efforts 
such as projects to remove unexploded ordinance out of post-conflict 
zones, citing the example of Lebanon, where 5 million euros of EU funds 
have been spent for this purpose.

...

For the entire press release and a link to the full text of the 
resolution, see
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/031-29642-140-05-21-903-20080521IPR29595-19-05-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm

--


Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org



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