Greater public involvement in nuclear necessary

4-3-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — While nuclear energy will remain an integral part of the European energy mix, a new relationship should be developed between nuclear institutions and the European citizen, argues the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The conclusion came yesterday at a conference on the benefits and limitations of nuclear fission, organised by the EESC and European Commission.

“Energy is vital to the development of civil society and to the climate and environmental challenges ahead of us,” said Mr Stéphane Buffetaut, President of the EESC Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and Information Society at the EESC.

EESC member Ms Laure Batut also stressed that, in the context of a reconsideration of nuclear safety and the EU’s future energy mix, “citizens expect a wider debate on the topics related to energy.”

Emphasising that the energy mix faces great uncertainty and that significant change is inevitable, the two-day conference presented an opportunity for key decision-makers and stakeholders to debate a detailed study by the European Commission on the future of nuclear research. The study includes important input from social scientists confirming that civil society is an integral part of energy landscape and should participate in the decision-making process on research priorities. It argues that greater engagement of civil society could support the role of policymakers and help build trust.

In his closing speech, Gunther Oettinger, the European Commissioner for Energy said that research on nuclear fission should focus on safety and security, radioactive waste and maintaining a high level of expertise in the workforce.

EESC members Gerd Wolf and Ulla Sirkeinen both argued that research into the potential contribution of nuclear in a world demanding more and more energy was vital.

Co-rapporteur Richard Adams, EESC member and President of the EESC’s group on a European Energy Community, said, “The future of nuclear fission research must be seen as a joint enterprise involving the research community, politicians and the public.” For this to happen, Mr Adams continued, a new spirit of trust and transparency should be developed. A programme to bring this about is now being actively developed by the EESC and will be presented in conjunction with Commissioner Oettinger at the next plenary session on 20 March 2013.

“ The world is at a crossroads and we have to deal with the implications of the rapidly growing demand  for energy, the evolution of the energy mix and the role that nuclear could play in maintaining a safe and secure diversity in that mix,” concluded Mr Adams. “Only in this way can it contribute to our aspirations for a sustainable low carbon, global economy.”

For more information, please contact:

Karin Füssl, Head of the Press Unit

E-mail: karin.fussl@eesc.europa.eu

Tel.: +32 2 546 8722