Brussels, 15/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - Supported by several other countries, France has argued that the choice of the energy mix, including whether or not to use nuclear power, a low-carbon energy source and a less expensive option than renewables, should be a sovereign decision.
France will meet all the climate commitments made in 2008 for 2020: reducing carbon emissions by 20%, increasing the percentage of renewable energy in the energy mix to 20% and improving energy efficiency by 20%. “But member states must be allowed to choose how they get there and their choice of energy mix must be respected”, said French Energy Minister Eric Besson, in a debate with his European counterparts at the Energy Council on 14 February. “If we want to roll out renewable energy, then we have to be frank about the effect this will have for household energy bills and for companies that are heavy energy users, and the fact that, this kind of energy generation not being fully reliable, use will have to be made from time to time of fossil fuels”, he added, warning about the cost of green energy. “Nuclear power is a low-carbon energy source”, supported by 16 of the EU's 27 members, he said. “Contrary to what is being said, Europe is not turning away from nuclear power”, he stated. During the debate, his opposite numbers from the United Kingdom, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Romania also argued for nuclear power, which generates 28% of the electricity used in Europe. (EH/transl.rt)