European Commission adopts energy strategy paper.

The European Commission recently adopted a Green Paper "Towards a European Strategy for the Security of Energy Supply" in order to launch a debate on the security of the European energy supply. This is a comprehensive 118 page report on energy supplies and future energy strategies that could

simultaneously reduce energy dependency and CO2 emissions for Europe. In section II (page 86) on Tomorrow's Priorities on Nuclear Energy, the report recommends "Supporting research into reactors of the future, notably nuclear fusion, and continuing and stepping up research into irradiated fuel management and waste storage." The report is at http://fire.pppl.gov/EC_green_paper.pdf

A Green paper is an Official Document of the European Commission. Green Papers are communications published by the Commission on a specific policy area. Primarily they are documents addressed to interested parties, organisations and individuals, who are invited to participate in a process of consultation and debate. In some cases they provide an impetus for subsequent legislation.

In an accompanying press release http://fire.pppl.gov/EC_PR_green_paper.pdf the EC quotes Loyala de Palacio, vice-president in charge of Energy and Transport, as saying "Confronted with both increasing external dependence and the urgency of the fight against climate change, the European Union cannot be complacent. We have to be aware of the efforts needed and try and define a real European strategy, more coherent and responsible: it means a wider energy supply and a genuine policy of rationalisation of energy consumption, particularly in the building and transport sectors." The press release lists 13 points under the heading "Orientation of the Debate," Point 8 states, "Seeing that nuclear energy is one of the elements in the debate on tackling climate change and energy autonomy, how can the Community find a solution to the problem of nuclear waste, reinforcing nuclear safety and developing research into reactors of the future, in particular fusion technology?"