Brussels, 18/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - On the initiative of Damien Abad (EPP, France), a delegation from the European Parliament (EP) budgets committee visited the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) site in Cadarache, France, on 16-18 May. The purpose of the visit was to assess progress on the project, its budgetary needs and its energy potential. Abad said that it had proved conclusive as “virtually all the MEPs” who travelled re-affirmed the EP's commitment to supporting this ambitious project. In their conclusions, the MEPs say that the ITER project represents a great investment in what could prove to be a source of inestimable energy for Europe. The project might also provide a real alternative to fission nuclear plants in terms of safety. Recent events in Fukushima have served only to demonstrate the need to press ahead with the ITER project, Abad stated. Despite constant revision of the budget, almost 45% of which is being met by the EU, the delegation expressed its confidence in the management of the project, while stating that the EP should be kept more closely informed and henceforth consulted at each re-assessment of costs. The delegation called on the Council to end the “uncertainty” surrounding the funding and human resourcing of the project.
This image of consensus is somewhat dispelled by the Greens/EFA MEPs who took part in the visit. Bart Staes, Isabelle Durant (both Belgium) and Michèle Rivasi (both France) view ITER as a “hold up” of European taxpayers and future generations, pointing out that “the bill has already tripled” since 2006, even though the feasibility of the project has yet to be established. Rivasi added that the ITER project is surrounded by “scientific uncertainty” as it is still based on untried hypotheses. For the Greens, ITER is not just a “financial black hole”, it is also a project which attracts far too much attention and funding, to the neglect of renewable energy. (J.K./transl.rt)