Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
The future of nuclear energy in the European Union

AuteurDe Esteban, EC
6-04-1-10-62.pdf
Datummei 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




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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