One should however not draw too early conclusions. Energy needs in Europe are stagnating, yes indeed. We see the same in the former East European bloc. These will mostly have to be satisfied with hydrocarbons and coal. Therefore, and this is especially true for the EU with its limited domestic supply sources, there can be no room for complacency.
Efforts have to continue to save energy, to diversify sources of supply and to preserve autonomy.
Therefore, and this is in spite of the different choices made by the Member States, it is the opinion of the European Commission that nuclear energy can and has to play a stable role in the realization of these objectives. Let us now have a closer look at the nuclear energy option in the European Union. The political will of several European governments has made it possible to build a nuclear Europe. This was done as a sovereign decision of individual governments in the context of the Euratom Treaty. A strong European nuclear industry has been developed, which uses its own technology, which covers the complete fuel cycle and which satisfies about one third of the electricity needs of the 12 Member States.