12/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - Nuclear, Austria calls for stress tests every 3 to 5 years. On 10 December, the Austrian Minister for the Environment, Niki Berlakovich, put his case to the Energy Commissioner, Günther Oettinger, for stress tests on nuclear power stations to be held at regular intervals, every 3 to 5 years, in order to bring the older installations up to scratch, or to scrap them completely if this proves necessary, according to the Austrian press agency APA. Austria, which has banned the construction or commissioning of nuclear power stations since 1978, is, however, surrounded by neighbouring countries which all use nuclear energy. The final report of the Commission on the stress tests carried out in 2011-2012 confirmed a high level of safety in the EU, but also revealed improvements which need to be made. The bill could reach €30 billion (see EUROPE 10703). (EH/transl.fl)