What you need to know about Euratom
- Justin Bowden
- Dec 15, 2017
- 2 min read
A consequence of leaving the EU will be that the UK automatically leaves something called Euratom.
Euratom is both a treaty and an organisation. It regulates the nuclear industry in the UK and membership enables Britain to trade in all things nuclear and allows the free movement of personnel. In the event of any disputes within Euratom, it is the European Court of Justice (ECJ) which adjudicates.
Until this week, the Government had planned to leave Euratom suddenly with no alternative. This would have been highly problematic because in the time left it is almost certainly impossible to replicate what Euratom does or negotiate parallel agreements with countries like the USA who are vital trading partners.
GMB have led the campaign by the nuclear Unions for the UK to either remain in Euratom or for there to be at least an extension of UK membership to allow for a period of transition. We called for this, with securing jobs as a priority. Working and political campaigning with our MPs in Parliament, we have won some useful concessions from Ministers, which should allow for a transition period.
Whilst this is welcome news for all of us concerned, we will now have to be vigilant and keep the pressure up to ensure that they follow through.
The consequences of leaving Euratom without any alternative provision, include not being able to import fuel for our reactors, send reprocessed fuel from Sellafield abroad or import radioisotopes for NHS use in diagnostics, radiation therapy and other beneficial medical uses. If the UK is out of Euratom, and without a replacement in place, then inspections, research and the movement of nuclear materials could grind to a halt.
Without a clear transition plan, jobs and investment in the nuclear industry will be put at risk. This isn’t about how anyone voted in the referendum, it is about protecting nuclear jobs once we leave the EU.
More than 65,000 people are employed in the nuclear industry – this is too big to get wrong – so rest assured, we will continue the mounting pressure to ensure any promises from this Government are actually delivered.
