The European Commission looks to the future of nuclear energy in the EU

Nuclear energy plays a key role in meeting Europe's energy needs and contributes to the three objectives of EU energy policy:

ensuring security of supply,

limiting greenhouse gas emissions,

ensuring competitive energy prices in Europe.

In April 2016, the European Commission published the latest Prototype Nuclear Program (PINC). Under the provisions of the EURATOM Treaty, the Commission is authorised to periodically issue a new PINC in order to set out objectives and programmes for nuclear production and the necessary investments accordingly. The programme provides useful information on the entire life cycle of nuclear energy in Europe: from fuel production and improving nuclear safety and long-term operation to radioactive waste management and decommissioning. The last PINC was published in 2007, four years before the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The Commission noted that since the publication of the previous PINC „the EU nuclear landscape has undergone significant changes in the organisation of comprehensive risk and safety assessments (“stress tests„) of power nuclear reactors in the EU following the Fukushima accident and the adoption of major legislative acts in the field of nuclear safety, radioactive waste and spent fuel management and radiation protection„. According to the EC, there are currently 129 nuclear reactors in operation in the EU with a total capacity of 120 GWe. Together they provide 27% of electricity in the bloc.

Necessary investments in the nuclear sector

The European Commission estimates that between €350 billion and €450 billion will be needed over the next 35 years to maintain the EU's nuclear capacity at between 95 and 105 GWe (around 20% of the electricity produced in the unit), either by extending the lifetime of existing nuclear power plants or by building new ones. Around 90% of the EU's existing reactors will be closed by 2030, without life extension programmes, which will require large amounts of capacity to be replaced. Around €45 billion to €50 billion will need to be invested in long-term programmes for the operation of existing reactors until 2050. Maintaining nuclear generation capacity between 95 and 105 GWe by 2050 would also require investments of between €350 billion and €450 billion in new reactors to replace most of the existing ones. The Commission noted that, given that new nuclear power plants are designed to operate for at least 60 years, these new plants will be generating electricity until the end of the century. Separately, more than 50 of the EU's currently operating nuclear reactors are expected to be permanently shut down by 2025, the Commission said. In December 2014, European nuclear operators estimated that €123 billion would be needed to decommission existing nuclear reactors and €130 billion to manage radioactive waste by 2050.

Agreements with third parties

The EC also proposes an amendment to Article 103 of the Euratom Treaty, which regulates the conclusion of nuclear energy-related contracts with third countries. The amendment provides that such contracts should be subject to prior consultation with the EC before their conclusion, in order to verify their compliance with the objectives and provisions of the Euratom Treaty. This would avoid unnecessary delays in the conclusion of contracts.