Call to end nuclear reprocessing

Britain and France have been isolated by a decision calling for an end to nuclear reprocessing in Europe by 12 of the 15 signatory countries to an international agreement on marine pollution.

The vote yesterday by parties to the OSPAR convention, who are meeting in Copenhagen, pushes these reprocessing states closer to the more environmentally acceptable option of "dry storage" of nuclear waste.

Moves by Ireland seeking a cessation of reprocessing at Sellafield and by Denmark, requiring a suspension, were not considered. But the Minister of State for Energy, Mr Joe Jacob, insisted the outcome was "hugely significant in the Government's campaign" seeking a closure of the BNFL facility in Cumbria. Greenpeace spokesman Mr John Bowler said, however, that the outcome was "a decisive moment with far-reaching consequences, as never before has such a strong message been sent by so many countries calling for an end to reprocessing".

He added: "The UK and France will argue they are not bound by a decision they did not support, but in reality they are politically and publicly isolated if they continue to pollute the oceans against the wishes of their neighbouring countries, and the public.

"The truth is that they will now have to stop nuclear reprocessing sooner than later."

The decision seeks to implement a ban on nuclear reprocessing by requiring the UK and France to change discharge authorisations at Sellafield and La Hague and to make reprocessing there illegal. However, the ban will be delayed for as long as the UK and France refuse to accept the decision.

Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Iceland, Germany, Norway and Finland voted for the resolution, which won the three-quarters majority needed for passage. France, Britain, Luxembourg and the EU abstained.

BNFL said it was pleased with the outcome, particularly a decision not to pursue the stronger Irish and Danish motions. Had they been pursued, the net effect would have been to cut across a process of reduced discharges to the marine environment "that is reasonable and practicable".