Nuclear and renewables on the menu at EU ministerial

Ministers will debate the long-term targets for renewable energies as well as the contribution of nuclear power to climate-change mitigation and supply security at a dinner devoted to the EU’s energy mix.

The debate will feed into a strategic energy review that the Commission is preparing for 10 January. The review will assess the contribution of every source of energy to the EU’s agreed objectives of sustainability, competitiveness and supply security.
The consensus is that EU nations should favour energy sources which contribute to energy independence, and emit as little carbon as possible but without mentioning a preference for a specific technology. This paves the way for an official endorsement of nuclear power, which is being revived in a growing number of countries.

On renewables, a new longer-term target, possibly for 2020, should receive backing from the ministers, diplomats said. This would give investors a longer timeframe than the March summit agreement, which considered raising their share to 15% by 2015. The current objective, laid down in the EU renewables directive, is 12% by 2010.

EurActiv