CHERNOBYL TODAY: EU SHOULD HAVE A STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS LEFT BY CHERNOBYL

On 17 April, the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament held the public hearing Chernobyl Today. The impact of the Chernobyl catastrophe (April 26 1986) on the environment, health and society as well as the violations of human rights with the focus in particular on the victims of the catastrophe, was discussed during the hearing.

"The Soviet Government initially delayed any public announcement that the accident had occurred and provided limited information which has left a legacy of mistrust surrounding official statements on radiation. The behaviour of the Soviet leadership was a crime not only against the population, but also against humanity", said Alejo Vidal-Quadras MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament, in the opening speech.

"The Chernobyl disaster happened in 1986. Next week will mark its 22nd anniversary. We gathered here to speak about Chernobyl. But it is not about the present situation, it is about the future, and for the sake of the future. The legacy of Chernobyl must be addressed in Belarus as well as in the EU Member States in order to fight the rapidly growing numbers of deaths from cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The EU should have a strategy and action plan to address the old problems left by Chernobyl and meet the new challenges", emphasised the initiator and the host of the hearing, Laima Andrikienė MEP.

 

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