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France using OECD in promotion for their troubled nuclear industry

many countries are clearly unhappy to see the international organisation linked to what could clearly be interpreted as a public relations exercise on the part of the French to promote their energy and nuclear champions.

French PR vexes OECD  FD is South Korea’s weakness FDI.com  By Christian Oliver in Seoul January 19 2010 “…..Foreign investors are very clear why South Korea is punching beneath its weight. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and FDI is South Korea’s weakness  “….

..Development is due to hold a high level ministerial conference on nuclear energy in March. The Paris conference is being organised by the French government and both President Nicolas Sarkozy and prime minister François Fillon will be participating.The French president has apparently already sent out letters to more than 60 other heads of state or prime ministers inviting them to be represented at ministerial level as well as to top representatives from the European Commission, the International Atomic Energy Association and, of course, the OECD itself.

The French organisers are also thinking of putting on a separate side-event to showcase their country’s nuclear expertise and their industry champions including EDF, Areva, GDF-Suez, Total and Alstom.This already appears to be causing diplomatic controversy among OECD member states. For many countries are clearly unhappy to see the international organisation linked to what could clearly be interpreted as a public relations exercise on the part of the French to promote their energy and nuclear champions.

But they should not worry too much. For in terms of public relations, the French nuclear industry is shooting itself in the foot with an unseemly power struggle that seriously risks undermining its reputation at home and on the important export markets.

The French are still smarting over their defeat in the multi-bill fiasco

FT.com / Columnists / World View – FDI is South Korea’s weakness

January 20, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | France, politics international | antinuclear, AREVA, France, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin