The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) advised the European Union (EU) policymakers on the need to maintain the use of nuclear energy in Europe and to expand nuclear energy use by capitalizing upon new developments in nuclear fusion technology ("EU Institutionà," 1; "Nuclear Fusion Isà," 8). Safe and clean nuclear energy is seen as a priority in the EU for sustainable development and is seen as greatly contributing to meeting Kyoto Treaty requirements. The European Commission recently earmarked 750 million Euro dollars to fund nuclear fusion research and to begin construction of a large International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor facility ("Nuclear Fusion Isà, 8).
In this report, an exploration of nuclear power development in Europe will be completed. The report will identify future developments, particularly the promise of nuclear fusion, and its possible impact on the situation.
The Uranium Information Centre (1) reported in 2005 on the economics of nuclear power, particularly within the context of the EU. This organization states that nuclear power is cost competitive with other forms of electricity generation, that rising gas prices are making nuclear power even more appealing, and that the EU has launched a project to expand the use of nuclear power throughout Europe to reduced global warming and dependence on coal and gas.
Others agree that nuclear power is a necessity. Gutierrez (1) noted that in Spain, nuclear energy will contribute dramatically to ongoing development efforts and improve the national economy. The EESC has taken the position that it is vital to invest in research on thermonuclear fusion and that such research has the potential to reduce the amount of radioactive waste traditionally produced by nuclear power facilities ("Economic and Social Committee..," 417).
Presented below is a chart listing the locations, number, capacity, and nuclear construction projects in Eur...