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RESOLUTIONON THE SAFETY OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS PLANNED TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN LITHUANIA AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD17 March 2011Vilnius

            The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,

            acknowledging that nuclear energy currently plays an important role in ensuring uninterrupted generation and supply of electricity to consumers in many countries worldwide;

            noting that the recent tragic events in Japan and subsequent accidents at the country’s nuclear power plants are yet another proof of the necessity to consistently and unconditionally comply with the safety requirements set forth in international documents when designing, constructing and operating nuclear facilities with prior comprehensive environmental impact assessment;

            stressing that, in developing the project of construction of a new nuclear power plant in Visaginas, the Republic of Lithuania consistently complies with the requirements of the 1991 United Nations Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (hereinafter referred to as the “Espoo Convention”) and other international conventions and legal acts, provides and is prepared to continue to provide the required information on the project implementation to the public in Lithuania and in neighbouring states;

            being convinced that the implementation of the new nuclear power plant project in Visaginas must be based on technologies corresponding to universally recognised nuclear safety standards which allow for ensuring safe operation;

            reminding of the joint opinion of the Committee on European Affairs, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Environment Protection and the Nuclear Energy Commission of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on the Environmental Impact Assessment of Nuclear Power Plants of Neighbouring States Planned to Be Constructed in the Vicinity of Lithuanian Cities and Densely Populated Areas, adopted on 24-25 March 2010, which expresses justified concerns about the transparency and safety of nuclear projects under development in Lithuania’s neighbourhood;

            notes that the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation have not performed environmental impact assessment in respect of the nuclear power plants planned to be constructed in their countries following the universally recognised international legal norms, have not held public discussions of this project in Lithuania and bilateral consultations with the Republic of Lithuania as required by the Espoo Convention, whereto the Republic of Lithuania and all neighbouring states have acceded, also the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus Convention) and the Convention on Nuclear Safety of the International Atomic Energy Agency;

            points out to the authorities of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation that under the Espoo Convention, final decisions concerning the planned construction of nuclear power plants must be taken and actual works must commence only upon taking due account of the outcome of environmental impact assessment, including comments of the parties involved in the process and the outcome of consultations held with the parties;

            expresses deep concern over the possibility of spreading of radiological impact zones of the nuclear power plants planned to be constructed in the neighbouring states of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation to the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, reaching the capital Vilnius and other cities and residential areas, affecting the river Neris basin;

            demands that the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation comply with all provisions of the Espoo Convention, the Convention on Nuclear Safety of the International Atomic Energy Agency and other international legal acts, provide exhaustive replies to all questions posed by the Republic of Lithuania with regards to the design of the nuclear power plants, organise public discussions in Lithuania and bilateral consultations;

            reminds that political responsibility for the safety of nuclear facilities falls not only on the states developing the projects, but also third-party participants;

            promotes and supports various international effort taken to establish and consolidate the nuclear safety standards of a new generation.

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS                          IRENA DEGUTIENE