On 28 January 2016, five inspectors from the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) reported serious failings in the water pump engines at the Almaraz nuclear power plant. These failings raise doubts about the operability of the cooling system and pose a serious risk to local people and to the environment in Spain and Portugal.

Almaraz has repeatedly made headlines owing to its poor safety conditions, and was even described by Greenpeace as an ‘extreme case' in its study on the application of minimum safety standards introduced in Europe after the Fukushima accident.

1. What is the Commission doing, together with Euratom, to ensure the safe operation of the Almaraz nuclear power plant and compliance with the provisions of Directive 2009/71/Euratom? 2. Is the Commission making sure that the Spanish Government is sharing all the relevant information with the Portuguese Government and with the Commission itself? 3. What is the Commission's action plan in relation to this matter? If it comes to the conclusion that the safety standards set by the above directive are not being met, will the Commission put pressure on the Spanish Government to close down the power plant?