Magazinović wrote to the President of the European Commission: Children in Bosnia and Herzegovina also have the right to a healthy environment

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Member of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina Saša Magazinović sent an open letter to the newly elected President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, ahead of her visit to the Republic of Croatia. 

The content of the open letter, which warns of the problem of the Republic of Croatia's intention to dispose of nuclear waste at the Trgovska Gora site, on the very border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, is reproduced in full:

“Dear President von der Leyen,
I am pleased that you have chosen our neighbouring Croatia as one of the first countries you will visit, with the wish that as the new President of the European Commission you will soon also visit Bosnia and Herzegovina. Until then, an important topic for you during your visit to Croatia, at least according to the announced content of your leadership of the European Commission, should also be the issue of the disposal of low and intermediate level radioactive nuclear waste from the Krško nuclear power plant (Slovenia) on the very border with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I will remind you that just a few weeks ago you presented a plan for Europe in which you stated that generations of our children want to live in a preserved and healthy environment. To avoid misunderstanding, the Republic of Slovenia will store its share of nuclear and radioactive waste from Krško at the place of origin, while the Republic of Croatia intends to store its share of waste at the Trgovska Gora location, which, besides being on the very border with BiH, does not meet a number of other conditions. 

Dear President von der Leyen, I was extremely pleased when, through your plan, you mentioned European children, their future and, in that context, a healthy environment. Our children in Bosnia and Herzegovina must also be granted the same right, to live in a preserved and healthy environment. Children of the European Union (EU) should not claim greater rights to health compared to children
of non-EU countries.    

Since I am sure that President Grabar Kitarović, Prime Minister Plenković and other officials of the Republic of Croatia you will meet will not readily speak about this topic, allow me to inform you of this problem. Very soon we should know where Croatia will dispose of nuclear waste, and we already know it aspires to Trgovska Gora, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and about which the Croatian Parliament has already made a decision. Due to the proximity of the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina and its geographical position, the location in question will have the greatest negative impact on the population and environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on diverse flora and fauna, on the Una River and drinking water intakes, it will threaten the Una Nature Park, the Una National Park and prevent tourism and the production of healthy food in the entire affected area. 

The previous procedures conducted by the institutions and bodies of the Republic of Croatia, which relate to the selection of the location at Trgovska Gora, are not in accordance with international conventions, directives, agreements and standards that are legally binding for the Republic of Croatia. I have no doubt that you are aware, given your loud advocacy for environmental protection, of the necessity of conducting numerous geological and hydrological studies before making such an important decision, as well as conducting a study of the impact of disposing such waste on the environment with mandatory analyses of the impact on the population.  

Therefore, I invite you to take an interest in this case, to inform the officials of the country you are visiting of these facts, and to remind them of EU legislation that obliges member states to take these steps already in the planning phase of a nuclear and radioactive waste disposal project, and that there are clear rules on how this is done. Please remind them, on that occasion, that this is about the central  catchment area of the Una River, from which the planned location is only a few hundred metres away. Remind them that as a country that will assume the presidency of the EU Council in January, they bear the responsibility of respecting the fundamental values of this Union, but also respecting the basic human right to health. Ask them, Madam President, to read and respect the Convention on Nuclear Safety, the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment  in a Transboundary Context with the Protocol on
Strategic Environmental Assessment, the Aarhus Convention and numerous other conventions and directives that regulate this area. I ask all this of you in order to avoid everything that could in the future cause the ignoring of the positions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also of EU legal norms.

Dear President von der Leyen, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country where political agreements are very difficult to reach. There are many obstructions, blockades, disagreements, misunderstandings. Opposition to the intention of the institutions of the Republic of Croatia to dispose of nuclear and radioactive waste practically in our backyard and thus directly threaten the lives of almost 300,000 people is one of the rare topics on which there is complete political agreement. Everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina unanimously expresses strong opposition and protest against such an intention. Parliaments at all levels, as well as the Presidency of BiH, have adopted identical positions opposing such an intention of neighbouring Croatia. I think that tells you a lot.  

Dear President von der Leyen, As a country that expresses aspirations for EU membership, Bosnia and Herzegovina deserves your attention. I believe that in this specific case you will show that you advocate for a Europe of justice which is, among other things, a community of equal citizens. With the wish for a successful term at the head of the European Commission, please accept my sincere expressions of respect”, the open letter from Magazinović concludes, the Parliament of BiH announced.