Brussels, 16/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - Against the backdrop of the crisis in Japan, the Greens, who are strongly opposed to nuclear energy, have called on the EU via the presidents of the European Parliament group, Rebecca Harms of Germany and Daniel Cohn-Bendit of France, to abandon nuclear energy. "Events in Fukushima show the myths about nuclear safety. The reassuring words of the industry about nuclear safety no longer convince anyone. Abandoning nuclear energy must be immediately planned and coordinated at European level”, the Green leaders stress, recommending a two-stage phasing-out process, starting with the immediate shut-down of the most dangerous reactors, then the closure of all reactors built before 1980, those situated in areas of seismic activity, those with no secondary containment and “boiling water” reactors, “for which the danger is greatest”, they also state in a press release, which was also signed by Luxembourg's Claude Turmes, who calls on the European executive to review its decision to approve the construction of the Belene site, located in an area of seismic activity in Bulgaria. (E.H./transl.fl)