European Atomic Forum

Background

The European Atomic Forum (FORATOM) is the Brussels-based trade association for the nuclear energy industry in Europe. It says that its "main purpose is to promote the use of nuclear energy in Europe by representing the interests of this important and multi-faceted industrial sector."

The membership of Foratom is made up of 16 national nuclear associations that are active right across Europe as well as the companies that they represent. Foratom represents EDF and Areva of France, RWE, EON and EnBW of Germany, BNFL and British Energy in the UK, Electrabel in Belgium, Urenco (UK, Germany and the Netherlands), AXPOand Nordostschweizerische Kraftwerke AG (NOK) in Switzerland, Endesa and ENUSA in Spain, Vattenfall and TVO in the Nordic region, CEZ in the Czech Republic, Nuclearelectrica in Romania, and Slovenské elektrárne in Slovakia.[1]

Nukes will save the climate

On 19 October 2005, FORATOM arganised a seminar entitled "Nuclear Energy: Meeting the challenge of climate change", at the European Parliament.

During the seminar, a cross-party group of twenty-five MEPs today signed a joint Declaration on climate change and nuclear energy, including the British MEPs Den Dover; Roger Helmer; Geoffrey Van Orden and Terry Wynn. Acccording to FORATOM "this initiative adds political weight to the shared conviction among an increasing number of MEPs, as well as national politicians, scientists and NGOs that nuclear energy can help the EU to meet its Kyoto Protocol CO2-reduction commitments and mitigate the effects of climate change."

Terry Wynn, seeen as a long-time pro-nuclear campaigner, told the conference “We can’t have a debate on climate change without discussing nuclear energy, and while I encourage renewable energy sources, let’s get real, none of them will ever run the Brussels metro system.�

The central theme of Wynn’s speech was that “the problems and the solutions for nuclear power are neither technical nor environmental, but political ones.� Other speakers included known climate sceptic, Chris Horner, the Director of External Relations, European Enterprise Institute, as well as from the Competitive Enterprise Institute and counsel to the Cooler Heads Coalition. http://www.foratom.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=111&Itemid=1