Source: European Parliament
17.10.2025
The Commission does not have a mandate under the Euratom Treaty to carry out this type of expedition or act in international waters. In accordance with Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty, the Commission is only entitled to access and verify the operation and efficiency of Member States’ facilities necessary to carry out continuous monitoring of the level of radioactivity in the air, water and soil and to ensure compliance with the basic standards.
During the 1960s, several countries disposed of their radioactive waste into the depths of the oceans. Since 1975, the London Convention has prohibited such practices and promotes the effective control of all sources of pollution of the marine environment[1]. The Commission has reviewed the outcomes of several international studies on this topic and will continue to monitor developments, including the findings of the French expedition. However, due to a lack of legal mandate, the Commission is not able to participate in such expeditions.
The activities conducted by the French expedition are beyond the scope of Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty. However, as the Commission pointed out in its reply to Written Question E-003975/2022 (see report[2]), it has carried out a verification of radioactivity monitoring of the Galicia and Cantabrian coastal marine environment on 18 October 2021 , which demonstrated that the facilities necessary for the monitoring of levels of radioactivity are adequate.
- [1] The Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972 is one of the first global conventions to protect the marine environment from human activities and has been in force since 1975. Available at: https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/OurWork/Environment/Documents/PROTOCOLAmended2006.pdf.
- [2] https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/nuclear-energy/radiation-protection/radioactivity-environment/verifications-radiation-monitoring-eu-countries_en.