Czech Rep wants EU talks on nuclear energy

Thursday, Dec 04, 2008

The Czech Republic wants to use its forthcoming presidency of the European Union to launch a debate on using nuclear energy in the bloc, the Czech ambassador to the EU said on Monday.

We would like to start discussing this taboo subject and we would like to open this question clearly at the spring summit,"" Milena Vicenova told a conference, referring to a meeting of EU leaders scheduled for Brussels in March.The pro-nuclear Czech Republic takes over the rotating presidency of the 27-nation EU from France on Jan. 1 for six months.

Many European countries have been reluctant to embark further on nuclear energy schemes, particularly in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster of 1986. But proponents have sought to relaunch debate on it amid growing concerns over global warming linked to fossil fuels.