Industry Welcomes Increased EU Public Support For Nuclear
Written by NucNet
Friday, 04 July 2008
4 Jul (NucNet): The European nuclear industry has welcomed the results
of the latest Eurobarometer survey* on attitudes towards radioactive
waste, which was published on 3 July 2008.
Foratom, the trade association representing the European nuclear industry, said the results show a gradual and significant evolution of public opinion in favour of nuclear power.
"Since the previous Eurobarometer on waste was published in 2005, there are now as many citizens who are in favour of nuclear energy (44 percent) as are against it (45 percent). This compares with 37 percent in favour and 55 percent against in 2005," Foratom said.
"The announcement that a second EPR will be built in France demonstrates that where there is the political will to promote nuclear, there is no reason to believe that public opposition can prevent nuclear new build from going ahead."
According to the Eurobarometer survey, there are now as many EU citizens in favour of nuclear as there are against it and public acceptance has improved in 17 out of 27 EU member countries.
Foratom director-general Santiago San Antonio said: "The results of the latest Eurobarometer show that opinions towards nuclear are on average quite moderate in the EU and that in many countries citizens are very much in favour of nuclear.
"The recent positive evolution of public opinion can be accounted for by the open debates that have been going on in many EU countries on energy and nuclear power. It indicates that information and transparency are essential for the future of the European nuclear industry."
*The survey is available on Foratom's web site (www.foratom.org).
Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Majority Of EU Citizens Accept N-Plants Can Run Safely, Says Survey (World Nuclear Review No. 8, 23 February 2007)
EU Survey Supports 'Common Nuclear Safety Standards' (News in Brief No. 4, 6 March 2007)
