European Parliament
Ribeiro e Castro (UEN ),
in writing. – (PT)
I support this report by Mr Lisi recommending the adoption of a joint text agreed on in the Conciliation Committee and updating the Council directive on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances.
We are particularly pleased that the following amendments by Parliament have been accepted, seeking:
- to extend the scope of the directive to cover hazardous substances such as potassium nitrate, which was the substance that caused the explosion at a factory in Toulouse in 2001, the death of thirty people and the injuries of around two thousand;
- to improve the training of all staff working in a potentially dangerous establishment, including all subcontractors, with priority to be given to initial emergency measures to be adopted in the event of accidents;
- to improve the information given to the public, with particular emphasis on establishing a database for land-use planning that will enable the compatibility of dangerous sites with sensitive areas to be assessed;
- to ensure that operators of dangerous plants draft publicly accessible safety reports, containing maps, images and equivalent descriptions;
Given the introduction of considerable improvements in the common position, which led to much greater progress than could have been predicted at second reading, I support...
(Explanation of vote abbreviated in accordance with Rule 137(1) of the Rules of Procedure)

