In April 2007, the Belgian Parliament adopted a law that forbids the production and use of depleted uranium (DU) weapons.

At present, DU weapons are used on a large scale by troops from both the US and British armies in Iraq. As a consequence of current use, and of use during the first Gulf War, 70 % of Iraqi territory is contaminated with uranium 238. High levels of cancer are present amongst the Iraqi population, and a number of children with birth abnormalities have been born to US war veterans as a result of this contamination. The devastating consequences of the use of DU were once again confirmed and reinforced by new findings from radiation experts from Iraq, Japan and the US who attended a conference and photo exhibition in the EP on DU weapons in May.

It is now possible to ascertain the exact age of DU isotopes, meaning that the relationship between contamination and sickness can be precisely proved.

1. Does the Commission find it acceptable that DU (nuclear waste which arises through enrichment) is used in weapons, as it has been in Kosovo, Bosnia and numerous other countries?

2. Does the Commission find it acceptable that whole populations and non-informed soldiers are exposed to this extremely toxic and radioactive nuclear waste?

3. Can the current generation burden future generations with waste that is toxic and has a half-life of 4.5 billion years?

4. Is it not our moral duty to follow the example of Belgium and abandon the production and use of DU weapons?