No public support for Euratom exit, shows poll

Research suggests pubic doubt the sense in government position over nuclear treaty

Just 10 per cent of the public back the government’s decision to leave Euratom at the same time as the EU, according to a new poll commissioned by the Nuclear Industries Association (NIA).

The poll, which was conducted by YouGov for the association, shows that more than half of respondents (56 per cent) want to remain in the Euratom treaty, while only 10 per cent believe the UK should leave the Treaty, with the remaining 34 per cent not sure.

The publication of the poll comes less than a week after the government published a bill paving the way for the UK’s withdrawal from the Euratom treaty, which allows the free movement of nuclear information, services and products for civilian purposes.

Of those who voted to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum, two-fifths back remaining within Euratom, a proportion that rises to 76 per cent amongst those who voted to remain.

Most respondents said they believe the Euratom Treaty to be important to the UK, with 75 per cent saying safeguarding checks are important in order to ensure that nuclear materials are in the right place and are not being used for purposes other than intended.

Nearly as high a proportion (72 per cent) said that allowing free movement of nuclear workers, skills and products is important.

Many of the UK’s nuclear co-operation agreements with other countries are tied into Euratom membership, and will have to be renegotiated under current government plans.

Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the NIA, said: “Leaving Euratom means replicating its administrative, practical and technical safeguarding obligations, negotiating nuclear specific trade agreements, and ensuring the UK’s continued involvement in Euratom R&D programmes. This will be extremely challenging in the remaining 529 days, alongside all the other negotiations which need to take place. 

“This poll shows the public agree with the UK nuclear industry – with only one in ten thinking the UK should leave Euratom. 

“We continue to urge the government to explore the options to retain the benefits of being part of Euratom in negotiation with the European Commission. Going to extraordinary lengths to replicate the arrangements we already benefit from is a time-consuming process when there are potentially simpler, more straightforward options to consider.

“While continued, or some form of associate, Euratom membership is the industry’s preferred option, the government’s starting point should be to at least seek agreement on a transitional period, to avoid the increasingly real prospect of a cliff edge exit.”