EU investment plan

Nuclear industry can't be bankrolled by EU funds

An initial list of projects proposed by EU member states, which could benefit from funding under the EU investment plan proposed by Jean-Claude Juncker, was today discussed by EU finance ministers. The list includes a disproportionate number of nuclear energy projects (1). Commenting on the list, Gr...

EU climate and energy summit

The 2030 targets: what's at stake?

EU heads of state and government are meeting at a high-level summit today and tomorrow (23-24 October) to decide on the EU's climate and energy policy to 2030. With headline targets on greenhouse gas reductions, renewable energy share and reducing energy consumption set to be decided, the stakes cou...

Nuclear power/state aid

UK's Hinkley deal waved through as Barroso Commission gives nuclear boost with parting shot

The European Commission today gave approval to plans by the UK government to give public support for the construction of a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley, provided certain adjustments are made to the contract (1). Commenting on the reports and the Greens' opposition, UK Green MEP and economics s...

Press Briefing Note

What is the Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear subsidy case and why is it so important?

The European Commission plans this Wednesday 8 October to take a final state aid decision on: THE UK’s €20 BILLION OFFER ... The UK government has offered a package of operating subsidies and other measures to enable the construction of two new nuclear power plants at Hinkley Point in SW England. The twin 1600 megawatt reactors would be built and owned by a consortium of four firms, two French and two Chinese, with Électricité de France (EDF) in the lead.

Nuclear power/state aid

UK's Hinkley deal cannot be waved through by EU Commission

Leaked reports indicate the European commissioner in charge of state aid, Joaquín Almunia, is set to recommend approving plans by the UK government to give public support for the construction of a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley (1). Commissioner Almunia was today questioned by Green MEPs on the...

Finland-Russia/nuclear power

Decision to build new reactor wrong on all fronts

Commenting on the decision of the Finnish Green Party to withdraw from government over plans to construct a new nuclear reactor, Philippe Lamberts and Rebecca Harms, co-presidents of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, said: "It is very regrettable that the Finnish government is a...

Climate and energy policy under Team Juncker

Green MEP Claude Turmes gives a gloomy initial assessment

So, overall, are you happy with the proposal from Jean Claude Juncker? I am not particularly happy with the proposal from Jean-Claude Juncker. The structure he has proposed for the new Commission appears to be based on promoting an outdated approach of economic growth at the cost of the environmen...

Nuclear waste

EU Commission must intervene to prevent reckless transport of nuclear waste from Hungary

The Hungarian authorities are planning to transport damaged nuclear fuel to a Russian reprocessing site, via Ukraine, with no plan for any return (1). The Greens have called on the European Commission to intervene to prevent this. Commenting on the situation, Greens/EFA co-president Rebecca Harms sa...

Energy security

Repackaging old, stuttering energy mix no recipe for securing energy supply

Commenting on the proposals by EU energy commissioner Oettinger on energy security, presented today, Greens/EFA co-president Rebecca Harms said: “The crisis in Ukraine has again underlined the need to develop a European strategy to secure our energy supply and reduce our damaging dependence on fo...

Energy security

European energy fossils look to the past for energy union

A conference on a European energy security strategy is being hosted today by EU commission president Barroso and energy commissioner Oettinger. At the conference, Polish prime minister Tusk is expected to outline his proposals for a European energy union. Commenting ahead of the conference, Greens/E...

Energy Union

Greens call for EU energy policy to be based on efficiency and renewables

The current situation in Ukraine demonstrates once again the EU’s dependence on fossil fuel imports to feed its economies. As with the situation five years ago, the EU has been taken hostage by its biggest supplier, as Russia plays its joker card named "fuels". With this as background, P...

The Greens in the European Parliament 2009 - 2014

Colouring our future