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EU: José Manuel Durão Barroso President of the European Commission "Address to the European Nuclear Energy Forum"

Nuclear Energy Forum

/noticias.info/ Prague, 22 May 2008

Prime Ministers,

Ministers, Members of Parliament,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for your kind invitation to the second European Nuclear Energy Forum. I am very pleased to be with you today, particularly as the EU-China summit meeting in Beijing last November prevented me from participating in the inaugural meeting in Bratislava. But I hear the Bratislava meeting was very successful, which confirms my view that the launch of this forum is both appropriate and timely.

I now have the chance to say what I could only express by video message last time ! namely that this Forum, which we decided to create at the spring 2007 European Council, is designed to respond to an urgent need.

A need for an open debate, without taboos, without too many preconceived ideas, amongst all the relevant actors, on nuclear energy in Europe. A debate on the opportunities, but also the risks...a debate on the costs, but also on the benefits...a debate on the future of the industry.

First, we must recall the historical context. For more than 50 years, the Euratom treaty has provided the reference framework for the development of nuclear energy in the EU. It contains binding provisions on the organisation, regulation and control of all civilian nuclear activities: both nuclear power generation and industrial and medical applications. It serves the public and workers on such issues as radiation protection, on safeguards of nuclear materials. The Euratom treaty contains key provisions in the field of investments, research, safeguards and international relations.

And this work is even more relevant to us today. Just a few weeks ago, I was pleased to welcome the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Dr ElBaradei, to the Commission. During our meeting, Dr ElBaradei conveyed to me his conviction that, globally, the trend is in the direction of more, not less nuclear energy. And this is a fact that deserves our serious consideration. We also agreed on a new arrangement to reinforce the cooperation between Euratom and the IAEA. Indeed, perhaps we can go further, to develop in the EU an even more advanced framework for nuclear energy meeting the highest standards of safety, security and non proliferation. Europe could become a real model if it succeeds in adopting a common legal framework on nuclear safety and waste management.

Second, the political context for nuclear energy is also clear. It remains absolutely each and every Member State's absolute right to choose freely between different energy sources and thus to choose nuclear energy or not. This right is reconfirmed in the new Lisbon Treaty. The European Commission is not in the business of promoting nuclear energy, nor of advocating its use. We respect the different priorities of the Member States of the Union.

We all know that nuclear power raises some genuine public concerns. Both the nuclear industry and public authorities need to address these issues, and I welcome the fact that this Forum this week will tackle them. Public safety must remain a paramount concern. Some countries have of course concluded that the balance of the argument goes against nuclear.

However, a majority of Member States (15) have chosen to use nuclear energy for power generation. Europe has the largest number of commercial nuclear power stations in the world. In EU-27 some 150 nuclear reactors are in operation, providing one third of Europe's electricity.

It is also very relevant, not least because they are well represented here today, that the EU nuclear industry is leading the world in terms of its technological leadership. This includes the design and construction of new nuclear power plants, but also all stages of the nuclear cycle, including nuclear enrichment and reprocessing activities.

So I think it is fair to conclude that there is now a renewed and growing interest in nuclear energy, both at global level and in EU Member States.

Perhaps the underlying reason for this, to put it in context, is the imperative fight against climate change that we are all engaged in. The climate change package that my Commission introduced in January confirms some tough targets set by the European Council. We are proposing to cut carbon emissions by 20% by 2020 and indeed by up to 30% in the context of an international agreement, to ensure that 20% of our energy supply comes from renewable energy, and to increase energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. We hope the package will be concluded at Council level by the end of the year, and enter into law before the European elections next year, in other words during the Czech Presidency of the European Union.

Nuclear energy can of course make a major contribution to this battle against climate change, as it generates two thirds of the EU's carbon-free electricity. By 2020, 60% of our electricity could come from carbon-free sources (nuclear and renewables).

But in addition, nuclear energy, as one of the cheapest low carbon energy sources and with less vulnerability to fuel price changes than some other energy sources, can help protect our economies against price volatility.

Nuclear energy also helps to enhance EU's security of energy supply, as it increases diversification of energy sources and reduces our dependence on imported gas.

So in conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased indeed that this Forum is off to such a lively start, and with such an impressive attendance from all quarters. Let me close by expressing the commitment of the Commission to make a full success of the Forum process. I look forward to hearing the results of the discussions today and tomorrow on all these issues.

Thank you very much for your attention.
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