Brussels, 05/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - In an interview published in the Austrian daily der Standard on 4 January, European Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, when questioned on the proposed “Nabucco” gas pipeline across Turkey, answered that “Nabucco” was “not an alternative” (to supplies of Russian gas, following the Russo-Ukrainian dispute, resolved only in the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, see EUROPE 9102), but contributed to the widening of the EU's gas supply. He went on to say that many Member States were interested, as well as the Commission. “This is not simply a technical project, but a political one too. Turkey has to be fully involved from the beginning”, he added.
Speaking about the role of nuclear power, Mr Piebalgs said, “Yes, of course, nuclear energy must remain one of the sources. A third of the EU's needs are met by nuclear energy. That's not bad, and it should remain at that level. It is for the States themselves to decide whether or not to build nuclear reactors. But new reactors (…) must be built in full respect of market rules. I don't see any further subsidy mechanism. (…) Finland has just decided to build a new reactor. If a country like Latvia gives the green light to nuclear energy, that doesn't necessarily mean that new reactors will be built”. With the Austrians so fully against nuclear energy, Mr Piebalgs did not foresee the construction of nuclear reactors in Austria, nor indeed in Greece. He added, however, that Eastern Europe was naturally much, much more interested in this energy source. Questioned on the on-going debate in Germany on whether or not to dispense with nuclear power, the Commissioner repeated that the decision for or against nuclear energy was one entirely for Member States. Germany's new Environment Minister, the Social-Democrat, Gabriel, was to present his personal view on future German energy policy on Thursday.