BRUSSELS (AFX) - The European Commission said it has decided to refer France to the European Court of Justice over its failure to enact measures that would ensure the public is properly informed in the event of a radiological emergency.

Under the Euratom directive, France is required to ensure if an accident or incident at a nuclear power plant occurs that the public are immediately informed, it said.

French legislation also fails to cover EU requirements concerning rescue workers, and the communication of prior-information to persons likely to be affected in an emergency, it said.

France is preparing new legislation to solve these problems, but the commission said because it "has not yet been informed about any new legislation, the infringement persists".