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Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) sees the ECJ ruling on subsidies for Britain’s Hinkley Point nuclear power plant as a “sobering result”. The Supreme Court of the EU had rejected an action for annulment from Austria and thus gave the green light to state aid for the nuclear power plant. This is “a mistake in Europe, against which we will take a decisive position,” Gewessler announced to reporters on Tuesday.
After an “outdated Euratom Treaty” was the basis for the decision, Austria had to push with all its might for a reform of Euratom. Gewessler is now seeking allies to convene a “Conference of the Parties” of member states for a fundamental reform of the treaty. A majority is sufficient for the convocation, according to Gewessler, who admitted, however, that the substantive decisions must be taken unanimously. Gewessler has commissioned European law and state aid expert Dörte Fouquet to analyze what changes are proposed to the Euratom Treaty.
Today’s ruling from the ECJ “is not good news” for Austria’s efforts to avoid subsidies for other nuclear power plants. Austria, for example, filed a lawsuit against aid to the Hungarian Paks 2 nuclear power plant; this procedure has been suspended until today’s sentence. The Paks 2 ruling is likely also based on the Hinkley Point ruling, the minister said.
Around the world, “for good reason,” much more money is invested in renewable energy sources than in nuclear power plants, according to Gewessler. That even applies to China. “Our work for a nuclear-free Europe continues. Nuclear energy is and will continue to be a high risk, obsolete, slow and expensive technology ”.
