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MEPs overwhelmingly support petition on aftermath of 1968 nuclear crash
May 11, 2007 1:11 PM
Diana Wallis MEP's report on the public health consequences of the 1968 Thule crash was approved by an overwhelming majority by Parliament's plenary on Thursday 10th May. (544 in favour, 29 against and 40 abstaining).
In 1968, a US B-52 bomber with nuclear weapons crashed near the Thule Air base in North-West Greenland. The air crew safely bailed out, but locals and US personnel from the base rushed to the crash site to see if there was anything they could do. Jeffry Carswell was one of the people who helped clear up the debris from the crash. He later developed cancer and holds that the Danish government did not sufficiently deal with the consequences of the crash. His petition asking for redress formed the basis of Diana Wallis's report debated by the Parliament today.
This is a highly remarkable case. Back in 1968 Greenland was part of Denmark which was 5 years away from membership of the then European Community. Moreover, after achieving home rule in 1979, Greenland eventually voted to leave the EEC in 1985.
The unusual nature of the case - and the questions it raises about responsibility - is one of the reasons Parliament's Petitions committee has invoked the sparingly-used Rule 192. This rule allows a report on a petition to be submitted to the whole House.
The Parliament's rapporteur on the issue is Diana Wallis MEP. Speaking ahead of the debate on Wednesday she said the issue is much wider than Greenland and Denmark as it is about "the consequences which nuclear accidents have for ordinary citizens. It raises questions of principle and has implications for many citizens across Europe".
She went on to say that "the report (on Mr Carswell petition) sends a firm but careful message to all Member States that health and safety considerations of individual citizens must be paramount in such situations".
A key legal aspect is the applicability - or not - of the Euratom Treaty. Denmark was not a signatory to the treaty in 1968 and has therefore refused to recognise its applicability. MEPs on the Petitions Committee disagree with this analysis.
See the video clip on the front page of the website for Diana's account of the incident and what it means for citizens across Europe.
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