Nuclear interest group New Nuclear Watch Europe (NNWE) called on the UK government and industry on Tuesday 14 March to strive to put in place a new nuclear cooperation architecture in Europe to strengthen and expand the ties between pro-nuclear countries and ensure a continued, leading role for the UK in the future development of the nuclear industry after it withdraws from the EU (Brexit) and the Euratom treaty (Brexatom).
In a Green Paper launched at the UK parliament on Tuesday, NNWE champions the creation of a larger club of pro-nuclear countries, the Organisation for Nuclear Cooperation in Europe (ONCE), comprising EU member states and other countries bordering the EU.
Alongside establishing and enforcing rigorous standards of competition and safety will be the recognition that nuclear energy is an essential element in Europe's response to climate change. Among the main priorities of the new architecture will be the secure supply of nuclear energy at prices that are competitive against other low-carbon technologies.
“With Brexit comes Brexatom … resulting in the removal of one of the strongest pro-nuclear voices in EU discussions. Entrenched anti-nuclear countries will have much greater sway once the UK is no longer at the table. It is vital that Brexatom should in no way weaken Europe’s commitment to a continuing role for nuclear in the energy mix”, argues NNWE in a press release.
Brexatom puts “Europe’s low carbon future in jeopardy, (and) also the ability to supply secure and affordable energy, and ensure the continued success of local supply chains. The need for new investment in nuclear plant is clear and now is the time to explore a new architecture for international cooperation on nuclear energy”, the group says. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)