Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
The future of nuclear energy in the European Union
Auteur | De Esteban, EC |
6-04-1-10-62.pdf | |
Datum | mei 2002 |
Classificatie | 6.04.1.10/62 (SAMENWERKINGSVERBANDEN - EEG/EC/EUROPEES PARLEMENT/EU - ALG.) |
Voorkant |
Uit de publicatie:
Background paper for a speech made to a group of senior representatives from nuclear utilities in the context of a “European Strategic Exchange”, Brussels, 23rd May 2002 7KH IXWXUH RI QXFOHDU HQHUJ\ LQ WKH (XURSHDQ 8QLRQ )HUQDQGR 'H (VWHEDQ 'HSXW\ 'LUHFWRU*HQHUDO 'LUHFWRUDWH *HQHUDO IRU (QHUJ\ DQG 7UDQVSRUW (XURSHDQ &RPPLVVLRQ 7KH &RPPLVVLRQ¶V *UHHQ 3DSHU (QHUJ\ 6HFXULW\ The Commission’s Green Paper on security of supply was published in November 2000. Since that date it has been the subject of a debate around a number of essential questions. A number of them are worth briefly repeating to set the scene in Europe. • The European Union is consuming more and more energy and importing more and more energy products. External dependence for energy is constantly increasing. • If no measures are taken, in the next 20 to 30 years 70% of the Union's energy requirements will be covered by imports. At present 45% of oil imports come from the Middle East and 40% of natural gas from Russia • The European Union now has to face new challenges. These include: • Enlargement - to perhaps 30 Member States with different energy structures • Liberalisation of the sector. The competition introduced in the electricity sector by the internal market is changing the conditions of competitiveness • Environmental concerns, which are nowadays shared by the majority of the public and which include damage caused by the energy supply system. On the specific issue of the environment, the struggle against climate changes is a major challenge. The commitments made in the Kyoto Protocol are only a first step. Greenhouse gas emissions are on the rise in the Union as in the rest of the world. The energy debate “should take into account that current energy demand is covered