Citizens and business split on future EU energy supply

According to a Eurobarometer opinion survey published on 5 March 2007, 83% of citizens agree that the EU should set a minimum percentage for the share of renewable energy in overall EU energy consumption.

However, Europe’s major business lobby BusinessEurope has expressed its concern about EU plans to set a binding 20% target for renewables. Nick Campbell, who chairs the federation’s environment group, said that the target was unrealistic and “a step into the unknown” because no one had ever demonstrated how this could be achieved or assessed the impact on business.
In BusinessEurope’s view, nuclear power has a “very strong contribution” to make as a non-CO2-producing form of power and the EU should take steps to increase its share in electricity generation from 32% to 40% by 2030. “An increased contribution by nuclear energy would help to promote the competitiveness of energy intensive industries,” said the group.

However, when asked, 61% of the overall EU population said that they thought the share of nuclear energy should be decreased due to concerns about nuclear waste and the danger of accidents.

EurActiv