Isabel Serra Sánchez, a member of The Left, has put the European Commission on the spot, demanding clarity and action regarding the radioactive waste dumped in the Atlantic trench off Galicia, Spain. Her inquiry highlights the long-standing issue of nuclear waste barrels sunk hundreds of kilometers offshore, stirring reactions from environmental groups, local communities, and nuclear industry stakeholders who might be affected by potential contamination.
The question was formally addressed to the European Commission in a parliamentary question submitted on 15 July 2025. Serra Sánchez pressed the Commission on its monitoring and preventive measures concerning the radioactive dumping, invoking Directive 2011/70/Euratom on the safe management of radioactive waste.
The Commission’s reply, delivered by Mr. Jørgensen on 28 November 2025, clarifies that its mandate under the Euratom Treaty does not cover the monitoring of radioactivity in international waters such as the Atlantic trench. Instead, the Commission’s authority applies to monitoring within EU territories and Member State facilities. However, the Commission commits to ensuring Member States comply with relevant EU legislation and international conventions like the London Convention aimed at preventing marine pollution.
This response reflects a policy stance prioritizing adherence to existing mandates and frameworks without expanding monitoring powers into international waters. It underscores the division between EU oversight within Member States’ jurisdictions and the limits placed by international maritime law.
Stakeholders impacted include EU regulatory bodies tasked with oversight, Spanish national authorities responsible for coastal environmental protection, the maritime nuclear waste management industry under scrutiny for historic dumping practices, and environmental NGOs demanding enhanced transparency and marine safety. While the Commission’s position reassures a continued focus on enforcement within EU waters, it also points to a gap in direct EU action on offshore waste monitoring, which is likely to fuel calls for strengthened international cooperation and possibly new policy initiatives.
The Commission is expected to provide further clarifications and possibly future action linked to Member States’ compliance, following a typical reply turnaround of weeks after such questions. This exchange sends important signals about the EU’s current regulatory limits and its approach to environmental risks stemming from past nuclear waste disposal practices.