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Chichester is chair of both the EEF and the EP Committee on dedicated to nuclear research. '° Renewable sources are in need of Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy (ITRE), which significant support in order simply to be regarded as a basic decides the energy policy proposals that will be taken to the EP status-quo option. Nationally within the EU, the push for nuclear Plenary. Chichester has taken part in at least six visits to nuclear —_ energy is yielding results. For example, the UK prime minister, sites and has always supported nuclear expansion. Tony Blair, recently changed his mind in favour of nuclear.'’ In The Forum for the Future of Nuclear Energy was founded in other EU countries, new nuclear plants are either being planned or 2003 by UK Socialist MEP Terry Wynn, a longstanding pro- are well under construction." nuclear campaigner who strongly advocates the benefits of On the other hand, nuclear lobbyists have failed to prevent a nuclear energy in the fight against climate change. Since Wynn's call for binding sectoral targets in the Morgan report that currently retirement from the European Parliament in early 2006, the forum excludes them because of the use of the term "renewable". The is being chaired by Hungarian Socialist MEP Edit Herczog. The __ report proposes a target of 25 per cent of renewable sources in FEFNE is open to MEPs, the nuclear industry and the interested primary energy by 2020. Pro-nuclear MEPs had proposed to public, and it is described as an informal body whose aim is to replace that call with a target for "60% of the EU electricity "provide MEPs and civil servants with a demand from CO>-neutral technologies by platform for an open and objective discussion 2020". This is in line with FORATOM on nuclear energy". But in practice, the agenda demands. is determined by FORATOM, whose members This failed amendment represents a clever are usually speakers at the forum's events. move, as bringing renewable and nuclear FORATOM's institutional affairs manager, Guy energy together under the label "CO>-neutral" Parker, explains that "FORATOM suggests not only offers nuclear energy the chance to potential topics of discussion and speakers to While environmental borrow from the positive name of renewable, it Mrs Herczog"."” also avoids the distinction and therefore Mrs Herczog advised CEO that "the working groups also try decision between the two. Fundamentally, this program and the logistics are discussed and to influence the would leave the door wide open to a big arranged between the involved MEPs, their increase of the share of nuclear energy within assistants and the potential participants energy debate, the overall EU energy mix. (speakers) who either themselves wish to come A H Despite this failure at the ITRE committee, to the forum, or are proposed to do so by their capacity with the 14 December plenary on the cannot compare to that of the nuclear industry. Members".'' In 2006, only one event was on the initiative of Herczog, whereas two came from nuclear industry representatives (Vattenfall and CEZ); another event is programmed for January 2007 on the initiative of nuclear giant Areva. Mrs Herczog describes her chairmanship of FENE as "totally honorary and in fact more a question of practicality, since someone has to send out the invitations and chair the meetings". horizon, nuclear proponents have devised another tactic to bring in the change and the target for 60 per cent from CO:2-neutral technologies. The new attempt will be presented as an amendment tabled by the EPP (European People's Party—Christian Democrats) and UEN (Union for Europe of the Nations) groups.” While environmental groups also try to influence the energy debate, their capacity cannot compare to that of the nuclear According to FORATOM's Guy Parker, industry. The nuclear lobby has the his organisation has been actively lobbying financial resources to be active on all MEPs from all political groups.’? And the pro-nuclear battalion is fronts. For example, on 8 December 2006, less than a week gaining ground, scoring points in the run-up to the 14 December before the Plenary vote, FORATOM organised an educational trip 2006 plenary vote. On 23 November, the Morgan report was for MEP assistants to a nuclear site in northern France. voted on in the ITRE committee. Thirteen amendments matching Information on the financial resources behind pro-nuclear lobby the demands of the nuclear industry were tabled by MEPs efforts would shed a clearer light on the (im)balance of involved on the FFNE. Nine of these were signed by Mrs influencing forces. A vehicle for this could be the European Herczog.'* The number of MEPs supporting various pro-nuclear — Transparency Initiative (ETI), expected to be finalised in March and anti-renewable amendments was larger than usual. A major 2007 by the European Commission. The ETI aims to regulate and victory was the clearly favourable reference to nuclear energy improve transparency around lobbying towards the EU after the vote. This was in contrast to the draft report which said institutions. that "nuclear energy remains a controversial area" and that "any The vote on 14 December in the EP will influence the decision will remain the responsibility of the Member States".'* Commission. If nuclear lobbyists get their demand and nuclear After the ITRE vote, the text now to be proposed to the plenary energy is promoted as a way, together with renewables, for the says that "nuclear energy is a part of the European political debate EU to meet its Kyoto commitments and fight climate change, this on the energy mix" and is "a way of avoiding CO» emissions" and will send a strong signal to the Commission as it embarks on the that the EP "urges the Commission to investigate the development Strategic EU Energy Review. of nuclear energy in Member States". This new text paves the This review is scheduled to take place in January 2007 and is way for nuclear energy to be included in the flexible mechanisms expected to lead to crucial decisions on energy policy when EU of the Kyoto Protocol after 2012. It also "calls the Commission to governments meet at the Council's Spring Summit in March. continue supporting research into all sources of energy Should the vote of 14 December start the ball rolling towards the (conventional, nuclear and renewable)"."° return of nuclear energy to Europe, this will have disastrous Currently, over 50 per cent of the EU's energy R&D funding is consequences for people and the environment. groups also try to influence the energy debate, their capacity cannot compare to alia -f ab 2 be industry. NEXUS = 13 that of the nuclear FEBRUARY — MARCH 2007 www. nexusmagazine.com