E.U. Commission to put more emphasis on nuclear power

E.U. Commission to put more emphasis on nuclear power


Jan 5, 2006, 19:31 GMT


'Vienna - The E.U. Commission will put more emphasis on recommending nuclear power after the Russian-Ukrainian gas row, said Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs on Thursday. \nIn the Vienna newspaper Standard, he said there was primarily \'much interest\' in Eastern Europe in building new nuclear power plants \'under market conditions\'. \nAsked whether he recommended atomic energy, the 58-year-old Latvian commissioner replied: \'Yes, of course. Nuclear power must be a source. One-third of electricity demand is produced by nuclear power. That\'s a lot. It must stay at that level.\' \n\'Which states build atomic energy plants, they have to decide for themselves. But new nuclear power stations must be built under market conditions. I don\'t see any subsidy mechanisms any more. Up till now many plants were indirectly subsidized.\' \nHe pointed out that there had just been a decision in Finland for a new atomic energy plant. However, he added, if a country such as his homeland Latvia gave the green light for nuclear power in principle, \'it doesn\'t necessarily mean new atomic energy plants will be built\'. \nPiebalgs said he did not reckon that countries strictly against nuclear power, such as Austria, would change their minds. \'I don\'t believe that nuclear power plants will be built in Austria or Greece.\' \n\'But in Eastern Europe, there is naturally far, far greater interest, and there is much greater approval.\' \nThe interviewer pointed out that in Germany, the new coalition was debating a possible delay in the existing plan to depart from nuclear power. \n\'The German plan is very ambitious. To realize it will certain require a lot of investment. But those are decisions of member- states, and the E.U. Commission does not have much to say about it,\' Piebalgs said. \n© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur';
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Vienna - The E.U. Commission will put more emphasis on recommending nuclear power after the Russian-Ukrainian gas row, said Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs on Thursday.
In the Vienna newspaper Standard, he said there was primarily 'much interest' in Eastern Europe in building new nuclear power plants 'under market conditions'.
Asked whether he recommended atomic energy, the 58-year-old Latvian commissioner replied: 'Yes, of course. Nuclear power must be a source. One-third of electricity demand is produced by nuclear power. That's a lot. It must stay at that level.'
'Which states build atomic energy plants, they have to decide for themselves. But new nuclear power stations must be built under market conditions. I don't see any subsidy mechanisms any more. Up till now many plants were indirectly subsidized.'
He pointed out that there had just been a decision in Finland for a new atomic energy plant. However, he added, if a country such as his homeland Latvia gave the green light for nuclear power in principle, 'it doesn't necessarily mean new atomic energy plants will be built'.
Piebalgs said he did not reckon that countries strictly against nuclear power, such as Austria, would change their minds. 'I don't believe that nuclear power plants will be built in Austria or Greece.'
'But in Eastern Europe, there is naturally far, far greater interest, and there is much greater approval.'
The interviewer pointed out that in Germany, the new coalition was debating a possible delay in the existing plan to depart from nuclear power.
'The German plan is very ambitious. To realize it will certain require a lot of investment. But those are decisions of member- states, and the E.U. Commission does not have much to say about it,' Piebalgs said.
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Vienna - The E.U. Commission will put more emphasis on recommending nuclear power after the Russian-Ukrainian gas row, said Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs on Thursday.
In the Vienna newspaper Standard, he said there was primarily 'much interest' in Eastern Europe in building new nuclear power plants 'under market conditions'.
Asked whether he recommended atomic energy, the 58-year-old Latvian commissioner replied: 'Yes, of course. Nuclear power must be a source. One-third of electricity demand is produced by nuclear power. That's a lot. It must stay at that level.'
'Which states build atomic energy plants, they have to decide for themselves. But new nuclear power stations must be built under market conditions. I don't see any subsidy mechanisms any more. Up till now many plants were indirectly subsidized.'
He pointed out that there had just been a decision in Finland for a new atomic energy plant. However, he added, if a country such as his homeland Latvia gave the green light for nuclear power in principle, 'it doesn't necessarily mean new atomic energy plants will be built'.
Piebalgs said he did not reckon that countries strictly against nuclear power, such as Austria, would change their minds. 'I don't believe that nuclear power plants will be built in Austria or Greece.'
'But in Eastern Europe, there is naturally far, far greater interest, and there is much greater approval.'
The interviewer pointed out that in Germany, the new coalition was debating a possible delay in the existing plan to depart from nuclear power.
'The German plan is very ambitious. To realize it will certain require a lot of investment. But those are decisions of member- states, and the E.U. Commission does not have much to say about it,' Piebalgs said.
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur