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Prague, 11 December 2000
- GREENPEACE calls on Zeman Schuessel and Verheugen to discuss in their meeting positive proposals to solve the blocked energy discussion. GREENPEACE calls for the EU to negotiate as part of the energy chapter for accession support possibilities for the Czech Republic to change it's energy policy away from a centralized nuclear and coal oriented one towards a more future oriented sustainable one. Both Austria (by environmental Minister Molterer) and Germany (environmental Minister Trittin) already indicated to be prepared to support the Czech Republic financially when it would abandon the Temelin project and decide for replacing it with gas power co-generation capacity. This proposal could be worked out towards a positive solution for the present deadlock.
GREENPEACE is aware of the still existing concerns around the Temelin NPP: no clear Environmental Impact Assessment, GREENPEACE still has several unanswered concrete safety related questions, continuing problems during the testing of Temelin block 1, financing problems around Temelin block 2. A policy that helps the Czech Government to find a relatively painless solution to abandon the Temelin project would be to the benefit of all parties.
GREENPEACE is of the opinion that the EU should play a positive role in finding solutions that not only relieve political tension, but also create a future oriented position for its prospective new member. GREENPEACE is of the opinion that the Czech Republic should not be punished for the communist legacy that resulted in its present energy policy which orients completely on nuclear power (Temelin and Dukovany) and coal technology. Austria and the EU should help the Czech Republic to find a way out of this deadlock without having to loose its face.
GREENPEACE therefore calls on the two government leaders and the European Commissioner to stop looking back to the past and start to work on a future oriented solution:
- a compensation arrangement for a shut-down of the Temelin NPP
- co-operation in and financial support for the development of future oriented energy policy in the Czech Republic that also strengthens the Czech market position in the future enlarged EU
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