Az atomenergia megújulása Kelet-Közép-Európában
The renewal of nuclear energy in Central-Eastern Europe

Summary/Abstract: Pavel Antonov – Paul Brown The European Union, which seeks a leading global role in environmental sustainability, has recently strongly opposed nuclear energy. However, with the accession of twelve new Central and East European member states, which are either nuclear energy producers or aspiring producers, the nuclear energy lobby within the union has gained new and strong supporters. EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs emphasizes in vain that governments need to take all alternatives to nuclear energy into consideration before making decisions that force their people into projects that offer no way out for an entire generation. The problem is that energy policy is determined by governments that are subject to intense lobbying by major enterprises, with both parties favouring mega-projects involving massive construction. Meanwhile, a report drafted in 2006 argues that energy demand in the European Union could be lowered by as much as 20% by 2020 through simple measures, all of which are more economical than the construction of new power plants. According to the position of the REEEP, the international organization advancing the use of renewable energy sources, it would take at least another ten years for any of the East European governments to draw on energy from new nuclear power plants, while they could benefit from increased energy efficiency within months.

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