France Digs in Over EU Fight on Nuclear Energy

From the Guardian:

Divisions over nuclear power and renewable energy threatened to derail the EU's campaign to assume a global leadership role in the fight against climate change at the bloc's spring summit which began last night. Warning that "it is closer to five past midnight than five to midnight" for international measures to combat global warming, Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel, chairing the meeting, urged EU leaders to "deliver results for our grandchildren" by making Europe the world's first low-carbon economy via a unilateral 20% cut in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

But France, backed by several east European countries, insisted carbon-free nuclear power be included within the EU energy mix and rejected Ms Merkel's proposal to make a 20% target for renewable energy binding on all 27 members.

Think the recent forced shutdown of the two reactors in Bulgaria had anything to do with Eastern European countries refusing to buckle down this time?

For more, visit The Transatlantic Assembly.

UPDATE: The FT looks at exactly the same news, and comes up with a completely different spin on reality. For a more realistic look at things, check out World Nuclear News.

FINAL UPDATE: Looks like we have a deal:

While the deal laid down Europe-wide goals for cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and developing renewable sources, separate national targets will have to be set with the consent of member states, presaging years of wrangling between Brussels and governments.

Which sounds like the coalition of France and Eastern Europe have kept the nuclear energy option alive.

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