A view of the escape door inside the York Cold War Bunker | Christopher Furlong/Getty Images No nuclear bunker for Juncker In the event of a nuclear attack, Commission staff would follow Belgian guidelines.

In the event of a nuclear attack, Jean-Claude Juncker and his team of European Commissioners would not be able to take refuge in a special shelter, the Commission said this week.

"There are no nuclear-proof shelters specifically available to Commission staff or to persons linked to the Commission," said Kristalina Georgieva, the Commission vice president in charge of the budget and human resources.

She said the Commission would "in case of nuclear threat ... follow national measures and recommendations."

Georgieva was responding to a question asked by MEP Jørn Dohrmann of the Danish People's Party. In June, he asked: "Are there nuclear-proof shelters available for persons linked to the Commission, i.e. staff, Commissioners and others, including visiting persons? Where are the nuclear-proof shelters located for the Commission? Is the Commission taking steps to provide instruction and guidance on what to do in the event of an attack or leakage at one of the nuclear plants?"

Georgieva this week responded in writing by saying that "in the event of a major crisis of a multi-sectoral nature, including the nuclear area, the Commission will make use of the ARGUS general European rapid alert system. This system enables to link all specialized systems for emergencies, and a central crisis centre bringing together all relevant Commission services and sharing key crisis-related information in real time during an emergency.

"It also permits the Commission to assure a rapid, coordinated and effective response, including instruction and guidance on what to do in the event of such crisis."

In April, Belgium said it was considering handing out iodine tablets to citizens in the event of a nuclear emergency. The pills are used to lessen the impact of radiation on the thyroid gland and can reduce the risk of thyroid cancer after exposure.

The country's Superior Health Council said iodine tablets should be distributed to those within 100 kilometers of an affected nuclear plant.

The whole of Belgium would be covered by such a rule when the positions of nuclear plants in Belgium, France and the Netherlands are taken into account.

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