Taking a stand against nuclear energy, Luxembourg and Austria will sue the European Commission for allowing Hungary to proceed with a Russian-funded expansion of its Paks power station.
Anti-nuclear Austria first announced its intentions to take legal action in January against its neighbour Hungary’s plans, which would see Rosatom build two Russian VVER 1200 reactors at the existing Paks plant.
Luxembourg said it would join the action this week, on 5 March. The two countries will take their case to the European Court of Justice.
“We are going to actively support Austria’s claim,” Luxembourg’s environment minister Carole Dieschbourg told reporters in Brussels, reports Reuters.
“It is important that no public funds be invested in nuclear power. It is definitely the wrong way.”
Reuters reports that European Commission has said it will defend its decision in court.
Hungary’s €12bn plan to build two new reactors – financed mostly by a Russian loan – was approved by EU state aid regulators in March last year.
The regulators said that Hungarian authorities had agreed to several measures to ensure fair competition, notes Reuters.
Reuters comments: “In many such complex cases, the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg has found in favour of the Commission.”
Image: Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, with the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban on 2 February 2017 (Kremlin)
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“It is important that no public funds be invested in nuclear power. It is definitely the wrong way.” Correct