Two opinions on the future of nuclear power in Europe following the results of the first stress tests from Gaston Franco (EPP) and Rebecca Harms (Greens/EFA).

Interview: Nuclear safety in question

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15822731/n003-0165-en_mf.srt

After Fukushima, EU nuclear  power plant safety still stirs debate.

The operators of the 143 nuclear reactors  in the EU had until 31st December 2011

There are currently no plans  to close any sites.

French MEP Gaston Franco  from the EPP group

and German MEP Rebecca Harms  from the Greens.

Have the first stress test results  reassured you?

Yes, reassured by the real will  to put in place this evaluation

of the condition of our nuclear plants  and, of course, reassured by the results.

Coming back from Japan  and after a visit to the Fukushima region,

I learnt from the Japanese scientists  and nuclear experts

that if the European nuclear stress tests  were to have been applied

in Fukushima two years ago,  the result would have been:

'The Fukushima nuclear plant  is safe and can continue.'

All the French reactors  have passed the stress tests

but France's Nuclear Safety Authority  recommends undertaking immediate work.

It could seem contradictory but in the end  I believe this objective view

is a little sharper today  given the disaster in Japan

and is also proof of the will to increase  the level of safety.

Through these recommendations,  we are facing new scenarios,

situations which are maybe a little more  difficult than we imagined,

Furthermore, EDF is ready to undertake  10 billion euros worth of additional work,

explaining that this would hardly add 5%  to its production costs.

My opinion is that doing stress tests  is not the right thing to do.

In my opinion, closing down power plants  brings better security for European citizens.

The Fessenheim plant in Alsace  is one of Europe's oldest,

should it be closed or should we bolster  its safety to extend its life?

The experts tell us that the plant  does not need to be closed.

We won't close it. On the other hand,  we are anticipating another stage,

which will consist in cross-referencing  experts' results,

not only in France,  but in other European countries.

Only at that point  will the definitive decisions be taken.

I think there are good reasons to go against  the future of the Fessenheim nuclear plant

and I would really ask the French  government to shut Fessenheim down.

Germany decided  to pull out of nuclear power.

In France, the Left is talking  about a 'rebalance'.

Is nuclear power not an energy resource  which is essential in the EU?

We have no problems in Germany  right now with energy supply.

We have no problems with prices,  they are at an equal level.

We have had no problems so far  in achieving our climate targets.

This shows that industrialised  European countries,

can phase out nuclear power very quickly.

In any case, the question is still there today  even if the winter is not too tough.

In any case, our German friends  do need electricity

I think that also prompts us to have better  strategic harmonisation

concerning these energy problems  in Europe.

Some have tried to go with solar power,  others with wind power,

some want to completely withdraw  from nuclear power.

I think that the energy mix should be  created at European level

with partnerships, as we can imagine, on  big solar projects in North African countries.

The Commission wants to learn  lessons from these stress tests.

Is it a good idea to have  common criteria to select sites

and organise risk management plans  in case of cross-border incidents?

I'm disappointed by the work  of the European Commission

because Mr Oettinger,  the Commissioner responsible,

promised at the beginning of the debate  after Fukushima

that not all old nuclear power plants  would survive the stress tests.

Now I see that the stress tests  are the foundations

to prepare or pave the way  for a nuclear future.

With other colleagues I'm calling for -  taking one of Michel Barnier's ideas -

the creation of a European,  civil rapid reaction force.

I think we must redeploy, set up  this centre of expertise.

Tense border security will only be possible  if there are decisions for phasing out,

because the impact of small or major  accidents never respects borders.