Nuclear perspective in the EU Nina Commeau-Yannoussis, Adviser to the deputy Director General, European Commission Brussels, July 2d, 2008

The new context for nuclear industry Usual energy context New challenges or opportunities for nuclear energy

A. Usual context (1): increase of energy dependency

A. Usual context (2): Preserve global competitivity of the economy Index of Real Crude Oil Import Costs in National Currency Jap Japan USA EU

A. Usual context (3): Acceptable electricity prices and uncertainties of fuel costs

B. New challenges (1): meet the increasing elecricity demande

B. Investments needs in te internal energy market(2) Electricity investments needs up to 2030 about 900 billions € (65% in generation capacity) Nuclear power has high capital costs and low variable costs its commercial viability depends critically on the cost of capital and the price of electricity

Results of IEA study : costs of new investment in electricity generation example of Germany-Discount rate 10 %.

B. New challenges (3): climate change preoccupations G-8 Energy ministers meeting

New challenges (4): nuclear expansion in the rest of the world China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and USA Middle Est countries, North Africa etc Globally 28 nuclear power plant under construction, 35 are planned.

1957-EURATOM Treaty 50 years after Euratom still in force

The Commission will continue its efforts to maintan the option open EU technology performance: Research– Euratom programme Ensure high standards for radiation protection, Safety and nuclear security (COM May 2008) Adequate funding for managment of waste and decommissioning (COM Dec 2007) Public access to reliable information transparancy and participation to décision making process

Preserve the technological edge : EURATOM Research Programme (FP7: ) DG-Research indirect actions Fusion 1947 M€ DG-Research indirect actions Fission & Radiation Protection 287 M€ JRC direct actions Fission 517 M€ TOTAL EURATOM = 2751 M€

Ageing of nuclear power plant in Europe- neceesity of dismantling founds

Europeans appear to mildly appreciate certain features of nuclear energy