There are many debates going on in the EU about the use of nuclear power. The latest enlargement of the EU has brought about a more positive view of this energy type, said Giles Chichester, MEP and president of the committee for Industry, Research and Energy in the European Parliament at the end of the European Energy Forum's visit to Slovenia.
Chichester stressed that nuclear energy is very important, above all as an effective source of electricity, so the EU cannot do without this form of energy but must increase its capacity.
Slovenian Economy Minister Andrej Vizjak said that the forum provides an excellent opportunity for exchanging opinions regarding European energy policy. As he said, nuclear energy is a sustainable source of electricity which however requires certain key preconditions to be considered.
These preconditions relate to social acceptance and the safe functioning of nuclear power stations, stressed Vizjak. "It is for this reason that in Slovenia we do not wish to consider new nuclear installations until the problem of medium and low level radioactive waste is solved."
It will also be necessary to bear in mind European energy policies, added Vizjak. This will be particularly important during Slovenia's EU presidency.
Slovenia's energy policy leading up to its EU presidency will have to pay particular attention to strengthening its home market as well as cooperation between the EU and the energy sector in southeastern Europe, Vizjak said.
As part of the visit of the forum, a demonstration of the use of solar energy on the Slovenian coast was staged on Thursday, while its members also took part in an international conference on nuclear power held in the coastal town of Portoroz.
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