Euradwaste '08 - EU Bookshop - Europa

1. Introduction
Keynote Address
Peter Faross
European Commission
Director, DG Energy and Transport, Directorate H "Nuclear Energy"
Welcome to Luxembourg – a place with a very interesting and exciting history.
In the past, Luxembourg was an invincible fortress. Today, it is - beyond others - the seat of
the nuclear "pole" of the Commission. Some say it is still a fortress…
Long time spans appear to be also a typical feature in waste management.
– Hundred thousands of years, that is the period the safety of geological repositories
has to be demonstrated. That looks like a long time, but we also know this is nothing
compared to the duration of geological processes.
– Six years – that is the time spent already on the debate on how to urge MS to take decisions
and to develop long-term solutions, in particular for High Level Waste and
Spent Fuel. Six years are a long time span as well when comparing it to the few days
it took to come to EU rulemaking in the current bank crisis. A short period when realising
that even a well progressing repository project still requires decades from the
principle decisions to the final implementation.
Is this a reason to relax? No, the contrary is true.
Nuclear Energy is high up on national agendas again after a period of stagnation. But the
waste issue still is perceived as an unsolved issue in quite a number of countries.
Given the long times required for the implementation of geological disposal, wait-and-see
approaches are risky and are close to gambling. Who guarantees the availability of human
and financial resources over extended time spans? Who ensures the necessary political stability?
Who gives young people confidence that their children and grandchildren are not
confronted with a major waste problem without having the knowledge, the money and the
required political commitment? Will they accuse us of not having taken and implemented
decisions in time?
Who fails to plan, plans to fail!
2. The situation
Traditionally, the first day of the Euradwaste conference is the "political day", focussing on
policy, strategy and socio-economic issues.
So I would like to offer to you a snapshot of how the Commission sees the situation today,
what initiatives have been taken in the political area and what conclusions could be drawn.
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