The European Commission has proposed new safety standards for nuclear power stations and nuclear waste reprocessing throughout the EU.
But Green MEP Ms Nuala Ahern has called on the Government to block the proposal on the grounds that it could undermine Ireland's case against Sellafield at The Hague.
"There is no substance to these safety standards and they are simply window dressing. This is an attempt to promote nuclear power in spite of the fact that the majority of EU countries are non-nuclear.
"The Commission proposal seeks to establish nuclear safety standards for the whole of the enlarged EU.
"However it does not contain any explicit provisions for common EU safety standards and therefore the Commission fails to imposed strict European common safety standards," she said.
The Commission's proposals would introduce common safety standards and independent monitoring of nuclear plants throughout an enlarged EU and calls for more funds to help member-states to decommission old reactors.
Announcing the proposal in Brussels, the Energy Commissioner, Ms Loyola de Palacio, called on member-states to decide by 2008 on a timetable for building sites to bury highly radioactive waste, which should be operational by 2018. For less radioactive waste, disposal arrangements should be ready by 2013.
"It is our responsibility to ensure a common approach to nuclear safety and waste management: European citizens would never forgive us for inaction by the EU in this field. Independent of the energy policy choices made by the member-states, consistent action by the EU in this field is necessary, all the more so with the forthcoming enlargement. The gaps in the community legislation on nuclear safety must be filled," Ms de Palacio said.
But Ms Ahern warned member-states such as Ireland that do not have nuclear installations will have no say in safety regulations in neighbouring member-states if the proposal is adopted.
The Irish Sea Nuclear Free Flotilla has expressed disappointment that a nuclear transport coming through the Irish Sea from The Netherlands, is bound for Sellafield. They also called on the Irish Government to intervene to stop the possibility of a new reprocessing contract being signed between BNFL and EPZ, a Dutch nuclear power company.
On Tuesday, spent nuclear fuel on board the European Shearwater left the Dutch Dodewaard nuclear power plant. The shipment is expected to arrive in Barrow in Cumbria today.
It has now emerged, however, that the only remaining nuclear power plant in The Netherlands, Borssele, which was to be shut next year, has been given a new lease of life by the government of the Netherlands, and is to remain open.
This means that a new reprocessing contract will have to be signed with either Sellafield, or La Hague in France.
"This is utterly unacceptable, and threatens the well-being of millions of people," said Mr Paul Barrett who took part in the recent flotilla protest in the Irish Sea, against the Japanese Mox shipment.
