Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
European Citizen’s view on radioactive waste, an updated review (2006)
| Auteur | Botella, Coadou, EC |
 |
6-04-1-12-03.pdf |
| Datum | 2006 |
| Classificatie | 6.04.1.12/03 (SAMENWERKINGSVERBANDEN - EEG/EC/EP/EU - OPINIEPEILINGEN) |
| Voorkant | 
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Uit de publicatie:
European citizens’ opinions towards radioactive waste: an updated review1
T. Botella, J. Coadou, U. Blohm-Hieber
European Commission, Directorate General for Energy and Transport
Unit Nuclear Energy and Radioactive Waste2
Summary
The Eurobarometer is a major policy instrument that enables citizens’ views to be taken
into account in the framing of Community policies and initiatives. The 2005 survey on
radioactive waste highlighted the central importance of taking decisions and finding
more acceptable management solutions, especially in order for nuclear energy to be a
real option for the public. The survey underlined the relatively low level of knowledge on
this issue and highlighted major gaps in the perception of risk. Citizens also wanted to be
involved in decisions and acknowledged the role to be played by the EU in this field.
1. INTRODUCTION
Europe currently faces two major challenges in the energy sector: to guarantee security
of supply without increasing external dependence and to take appropriate measures for
preventing climate change, in line with international commitments signed up to by the
EU and the Member States. Both issues need to be tackled in an appropriate manner at
European level so as to avoid the problems becoming even greater in the years to come.
Given the impossibility of European self-sufficiency in energy, there needs to be a
contribution by all sustainable sources to the energy mix in a scenario of a less energy-
intensive economy and more efficient consumption. In this context, it is not the
responsibility of the Commission to tell Member States which energy resources they
should use. However, the Commission can create a level playing field for all sources and
to highlight the extent to which each of them fulfils the three criteria set out in the 2006
Commission Energy Green Paper3, namely sustainability, competitiveness and secure
supply.
Nuclear energy, although considered a “less