Members of the European Parliament will today call for the suspension of the use of depleted uranium munitions while an independent study examines their potential health risks.
The motion, supported by the assembly's main political groups, follows a denial by NATO that there is any evidence to support a link between depleted uranium (DU) and cancer among soldiers that have served in Kosovo and Bosnia.
Former NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana was due to deliver a speech to the Strasbourg-based parliament following two weeks of mounting controversy over depleted uranium and the so-called "Balkans Syndrome". The motion, which is non-binding on EU governments, "calls on member states that are also NATO members to propose that a moratorium be placed on the use of depleted uranium munitions."
It also urges EU governments to hold a clear and transparent debate as part of action to establish a new European security and defence policy and says there should be an independent working party to examine the medical evidence.
EU officials have said the motion has a good chance of passing, although parties are divided and many MEPs believe the call for a moratorium goes too far.
NATO said yesterday that its chief medical officers had compared evidence and seen nothing pointing to a serious health risk from depleted uranium munitions used in the Gulf War and the Balkans.
"We cannot identify any increase in disease or mortality in soldiers who have deployed to the Balkans as compared to those soldiers who have not deployed," General Roger Van Hoof said after a day-long meeting with his 18 counterparts on Monday.
Reuters