Powering the EU

The optimal solution to Europe's energy concerns lies in nuclear power, argued Paavo Lipponen, Speaker of the Finnish Parliament on a visit to Poland last week. He said that the EU recognizes several advantages of nuclear power, including its resistance to price changes, its low cost and low CO2 emissions. "Europe cannot lag behind countries such as Russia, China, or India," said Lipponen. He suggested increasing nuclear power's share in the EU's primary energy sources from the existing 15 percent to 20 percent by 2020. Using nuclear energy could also give Poland more time to develop other low-CO2 energy sources.

"Nuclear technology is also an option for Poland, a country with long industrial traditions," claimed Lipponen. He referred to the proposed replacement of the old Ignalina plant in Lithuania with a new unit in cooperation with Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as "logical and welcome." Lipponen admitted, though, that despite nuclear power's advantages, there still remain unresolved issues, such as waste disposal and the high cost of plant construction.

"Polish attempts to construct a nuclear plant in the 1980s were hindered by the accident at Chernobyl as well as poor economic circumstances," explained Tomasz Wilczak, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economy, during a Polish-French energy seminar. "We do not exclude the prospect of building our own plant, but want to concentrate on cooperation with Lithuania first. In the meantime we will rely on 'classical' resources."

Reliance on external suppliers is another key challenge for EU states. Lipponen stressed that although cooperation between Russia and Europe is an opportunity for both parties, the EU should opt for independence in the case of any breakdown of supply and ensure that no member is isolated. Lipponen also highlighted the need for the establishment of a global trading scheme, more investment in research and in renewable resources and joint research projects.

"Poland will always opt for a common policy, solidarity, diversification and safety of supply," said Wilczak. "We hope that in the issue of atomic energy we will move from speaking to acting."