Brussels, 29/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - Following the signing in Brussels on Wednesday of the international agreement on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) (see EUROPE 9199), Luxembourg Green MEP Claude Turmes and spokesperson Rebecca Harms issued the following statement:
'The Commission insists on bulldozing through the nuclear options, committing a significant chunk of its budget to nuclear fusion, even though the majority of EU citizens oppose nuclear power. Annual spending on nuclear fusion is set to double in the FP7 budget compared to the previous R&D framework programme. Nuclear fusion has been under development for almost fifty years, yet there is no proof that it will ever be either economically viable or effective. Even its proponents concede it will not be commercially available for 30-40 year at best. In addition, it increases the danger of nuclear proliferation. Ploughing EU taxpayers' money into such a risky and expensive option is a disgrace. The Commission should not be allowed to drive forward the nuclear agenda against the will of its citizens. It is high time that current decision-making practice on nuclear power under the Euratom Treaty, which excludes the European Parliament from decisions, be repealed.'