EC Launches European Nuclear Energy Forum

November 29, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

Tools for Engineers IHS sells standards collections and regulatory information for the oil & gas, petrochemical and utilities industries. For more information and a price quote, please complete the form below. API Collections ASME BPVC ASTM Collections CyberRegs - Compliance library IHS Standards Expert - Standards DB IEEE Collections NEMA Collections AWS D1.1 Welding Code First Name: Last Name: Email address:

The European Nuclear Energy Forum, initiated by the European Commission (EC) and supported by the March European Council, was inaugurated on Nov. 26 in Bratislava, Slovakia.

This energy forum seeks a broad and open discussion on the opportunities and risks of nuclear energy by bringing together high-level representatives from public authorities, the nuclear industry and consumer groups; electricity producers; and members of the European Parliament and the European Union (EU) Economic and Social Committee.

Speaking at the forum's launch, Andris Piebalgs, EC energy commissioner, said that "a high level of safety, security and non-proliferation is the absolute condition for the use of nuclear energy.

"Public acceptance is the second important pillar. Building up trust in the available information and increasing confidence in the use of nuclear energy are vital elements for public acceptance in a democratic society."

Referring to the current European energy and climate change context, EC President José Barroso said in his welcome address, "We are now standing on the brink of a Third Industrial Revolution: the Low Carbon Age. Nuclear energy can have a role to play in meeting our growing concerns about security of supply and CO2 emissions reductions."

Barroso added, "It is, of course, not the EU's role to decide for member states whether they use nuclear energy or not. But we can make a significant contribution to the debate in areas such as research and safety and offer a platform for an open dialogue. The commission is ready and willing to help launch a transparent debate on nuclear energy and to ensure that the public receives relevant and reliable information on the different options available."

The European Nuclear Energy Forum will meet twice a year, alternating between Bratislava and Prague. The first meeting will identify priority issues to be further discussed in preparation for the next meeting in early summer 2008.

Source: European Commission.