In a statement, Austria's environment minister, Josef Proell,
said his government has serious doubts about Slovenia's atomic
warning system following Wednesday's leakage at that country's only nuclear power plant.
Proel said Slovenia had initially informed neighboring states Austria, Italy and Hungary
that the leak was just an exercise, although it set off an alarm across Europe.
Workers shut down the plant, several hours after the incident occurred.
Slovenian Environmental Minister Janez Podobnik has admitted
that his country's nuclear watchdog had made a mistake,
but he says his country had almost immediately informed the European Commission,
the EU's executive about the breakdown.
He said no nuclear materials were released in the atmosphere.
"There was no accident, just a minor water leakage," Podobnik said.
"The situation is fully under control.
And there is no impact on the environment and to the people."
However, the European Commission responded
by activating its European Community Urgent Radiological Information Exchange
which transmitted the information to all 27 EU member nations.
The system was introduced in 1987 after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster
to provide early notification and information exchange
in the event of a radiological or nuclear emergency.
The co-chair of the parliamentary European Greens-European Free Alliance,
Monica Frassoni, demanded an explanation from the Commission.
"The alarm is now not sounded any longer, but there are doubts what really happened?
And why in the first place this alarm was sounded," said Frassoni.
"It is very unusual. So given that the commission is with us
and Slovenia is currently chairing the commission we should call upon
the Commission to explain to the European parliament and to the public
as what are the real reasons why this very odd procedure."
The United Nation's International Atomic Energy Agency has said
it is also closely monitoring the situation
and that it is close contact with Slovenia and its neighbors.
The incident has overshadowed planned talks
of EU ministers in Luxembourg on issues such as climate change.
