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Austria, Czechs reach accord on Temelin plant - EU |
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| EU: November 30, 2001 | ||
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BRUSSELS - The European Commission said yesterday Austria and the Czech Republic had reached agreement over Prague's Temelin nuclear plant, removing an obstacle that had threatened the EU's eastern enlargement plans.
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"It has now been possible for us to put aside differences between Austria and the Czech Republic," European Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen told a news conference after day-long talks in Brussels between the Austrian and Czech leaders. "It has been possible to arrive at an understanding as to which measures must be taken to bring the Temelin nuclear power station up to the safety standards...across Europe," he said. Verheugen gave no immediate details of the accord. Austria, which opposes all use of nuclear energy, has long argued that the plant, situated just 60 km (37 miles) from its border, is unsafe and should be shut. The Czech government has been trying to reassure Austria that the $2.6 billion Temelin plant is safe, although two of its reactors are Soviet-designed. The row has hampered accession talks on energy issues between the Czechs and the EU, harming the bloc's plans to accept new eastern members in 2004.
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REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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