MEP Nicolás González Casares (S&D, Spain) has asked the European Commission to take action over more than 220,000 barrels of radioactive waste dumped in the Atlantic Ocean, some just 630 kilometres from Galicia, following alarming findings from the NODSSUM project. In a parliamentary question on 8 July 2026, González Casares warned that researchers have confirmed advanced deterioration of several barrels and detected higher-than-expected concentrations of radionuclides in surrounding waters, posing transboundary environmental risks.
The question, addressed to the Commission, contains two concrete requests: first, that the Commission ensure thorough monitoring of the affected area by the Member States concerned; second, that the Commission obtain the scientific data from the NODSSUM project, actively participate in verification activities, and coordinate a European-level response based on the latest scientific knowledge.
González Casares, a member of the Socialists and Democrats group, is pushing for EU-level coordination on a legacy issue that has long concerned coastal communities in Galicia and beyond. The NODSSUM project, which recently completed its assessment, has brought renewed urgency to the matter.
Under European Parliament rules, the Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal whether the Commission is prepared to take on a coordinating role or leave monitoring to national authorities, and whether it will seek access to the NODSSUM data to inform any future EU action.