(Guidelines of political initiative 1993-1994)

ABSTRACT: In Eastern Countries there are two major problems concerning energy: the presence of some thirty unsafe nuclear power plants and obsolete power technologies. Thus two initiatives are required: one to enhance "national energy plans", the other regarding the closing of the most dangerous nuclear power plants. These objectives can be reached only through a people's referendum.

(1994 - IL QUOTIDIANO RADICALE, 26th November, 1993)

From the point of view of energy--the basic resource of economy-- Eastern Countries have two huge problems which, if unsolved, will prevent economic development and create unacceptably dangerous conditions for the local population (but even the international community).

On the one hand, there are some thirty nuclear power plants that lack even the minimum safety requirements and which should be closed as soon as possible in order to avoid another Chernobyl disaster. We should also take into consideration the risks of assaults and air raids as consequences of conflicts and wars (e.g. the nuclear power plant in Krsko, Slovenia).

On the other hand, technologies and energy use are incredibly obsolete, so that interventions to improve energy efficiency are needed. The indicators of energy intensity (ratio between energy consumption and gross domestic product) in Eastern Countries are higher than the EC average by a factor between 1.5 and over 2. Without drastic interventions, the energy supply will entail for those countries an unbearable outlay of hard currency which will represent a real obstacle to their development. Without considering the destructive impact on the environment and public health.

Considering the overall situation, two initiatives have been planned and they should be contextually developed. One is designed to promote the launch of national energy plans giving priority to the achievement of satisfactory levels of energy to boost efficiency and to organize international programmes of financial and technological cooperation to that end. To this purpose the instruments at the disposal of national Parliaments and the European Parliament should be used along with incentives within the major international bodies such as EEC and G-7. People's petitions, seminars and training courses with the participation of scientific bodies and companies are also envisaged.

The second kind of initiatives in international programmes for cooperation are aimed at closing the most dangerous nuclear power plants. This problem has also implications on the subject of international treaties and institutions and links between civilian and military nuclear energy (Euratom, Non-Proliferation Treaty), of cooperation between East and West.

The best instrument to solve this problem is the referendum, along with the other means of parliamentary intervention. Apart from environmentalist groups and the public in general, this campaign aims to reach a bigger audience: parliamentarians, scientific personnel, public administrators, research centres and companies.