Brussels, 16/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - Opening discussions in the 2008 European Nuclear Assembly (ENA), organised by the European Atomic Forum (Foratom), in Brussels on Tuesday 15 April, Energy Commisisoner Andris Piebalgs reiterated the importance of nuclear energy for in the EU's pursuit of its targets in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “Nuclear energy makes an important contribution to our fight against climate change and our security of energy supply, but we need to strengthen the cooperation between EU member states on the issues related to the safety and security of nuclear installations and the treatment of nuclear waste,” he said. Piebalgs spoke of the need for substantial investment to replace the EU's ageing power plants, many of which will reach the end of their lifespan by 2030. “New nuclear power stations will have to be built and the lifespan of existing power plants will have to be extended to reach our 2030 electricity supply targets,” he went on, indicating that, to realise this investment, the Commission was currently assessing the issues of licensing, financing and responsibility. “Things have been progressing for three years, but we have to move faster,” he said. He also highlighted the importance of responding to concerns about security, waste management and transparency, which were, he said, “key factors in getting the people to accept nuclear energy”. He spoke of recent Commission initiatives, the High Level Group on Nuclear Safety and Waste Management, the European Nuclear Energy Forum which meets alternately in Bratislava and Prague and the Nuclear Energy Technological Platform. Taking part in a panel discussion on nuclear projects, Gérard Mestrallet, Chief Executive of the French electricity group Suez, stressed the need for long-term planning of nuclear power stations, stating that, in nuclear energy, plans cover more or less a century: 10 years are needed to build the power station and 20 years to dismantle it, after a working life of 60 years. On Wednesday 16 April, the ENA 2008 will discuss issues of financing investment in nuclear energy, the skills shortage in nuclear energy and reconciling economic growth and a low carbon economy. (E.H.)