Brussels, 24/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Friday 21 September, the European Commission officially launched a technological platform for sustainable nuclear energy. The main task of this structure, which will bring together the worlds of research and business, will be to define and implement a strategic agenda for research and a deployment strategy in the field of nuclear power. “For those countries that choose it, nuclear power will be a very important part of their solution to security of supply and reduction of greenhouse gases”, said Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potoènik. “It is clear that we need to address two important concerns- ensuring that nuclear power is economically competitive and, more importantly, our duty to make it as neutral as possible in environmental terms”, he added. World energy consumption is set to double between 2000 and 2050, and nuclear energy will remain a key element in future low-carbon energy systems, the Commission believes. Europe has the world's leading nuclear sector, with a third of its electric current being produced by nuclear power stations. This forum will provide recommendations and specialist advice to the European Commission and the national governments to help them to define and to concentrate efforts and budgets on the priorities identified by the EU27. (bc)