New Czech MEPs go nuclear, anti russian – with a little help from the EU

http://www.praguepost.com/eu-news/39336-new-czech-meps-go-nuclear

Published: 30 May 2014 Written by Czech News Agency

Majority of newly elected representatives in Brussels say they will support nuclear energy

Prague, May 30 (ČTK) — The government can rely on a large majority of newly elected Czech MEPs advocating the Czech Republic’s right to subsidize new nuclear power plants before European authorities, daily Mladá fronta Dnes (MfD) writes today.

MfD asked all 21 Czech MEPs about the interests they want to advocate in the EP.

In the section relating to energy industry, 16 of them spontaneously voiced support for nuclear energy, MfD writes.

“We will insist on EU members having the right to determine for themselves their energy mix, including nuclear energy, which must not be restricted for ideological reasons,” Jan Zahradil, a re-elected MEP for the center-right Civic Democrats (ODS), is quoted as having said.

The view is shared by MEPs from the opposite side of the political spectrum, MfD writes.

“I am for support of the nuclear program,” re-elected Communist (KSČM) Miloslav Ransdorf told the paper.

Only the MEPs for TOP 09 are more reserved on the issue, MfD writes, and only Jaromír Štětina will actively support nuclear energy.

“I support the completion of the Temelín nuclear power plant, but by companies other than Russian ones,” Štětina said.

However, another MEP elected for TOP 09, Luděk Niedermayer, is rather skeptical. “I do not think the support for nuclear energy can be pushed through,” Niedermayer is quoted as saying.

Petr Mach, from the euroskeptical Free Citizens Party (SSO), is against giving any support to energy sources.

All Czech MEPs are for European cooperation in the effort to provide for energy security at the time Russia is using its gas deliveries as a strategic weapon; however, they differ on the tools of the European policy, MfD writes.

TOP 09 MEPs want to renew the plans to build the Nabucco pipeline from Azerbaijan via Georgia and Turkey to Europe, MfD writes.

Along with Štětina, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s proposal of a joint European purchase of gas from Russia is supported by the Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL) and ODS MEP Evžen Tošenovský, it adds.

The idea is clearly rejected by Communist Jiří Maštálka, MfD writes.

“The Czech Republic should be able to negotiate more advantageous conditions than the rest of the European countries. It is a question of diplomatic acumen,” Maštálka told the paper.

Czech MEPs largely want to rely on nuclear energy, which is connected with their opposition to the growing role of renewable energy sources, MfD writes.

“We do not support the European target to produce 27 percent of energy from renewable sources as it pushes up the price of energy compared with global competition,” Petr Ježek said on behalf of MEPs for Finance Minister Andrej Babiš’s ANO.

“Nuclear energy is still the best solution for the Czech Republic,” Industry and Trade Minister Jan Mládek (Social Democrat, ČSSD) told the paper.

“I am assigned to prepare a draft nuclear energy concept along with the finance minister by the end of the year,” he added.