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), AXPO and 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 Slovenske elektrárne in Slovakia.

Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act show that BNFL's Annual Subsciption for 2005 was Euros 226,187.50, paid through the Nuclear Industry Association.

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.

"Time to Seize the Initiative"

In March 2006, FORATOM is hosting the second biannual pro-nuclear conference. It is being sold under the banner "Nuclear energy: Riding the Winds of Change".

The conference literature argues that "Rising oil and gas prices are unsustainable. Climate change continues to threaten the environment. Energy demand continues to spiral. The current energy mix cannot adequately meet that demand, so the specter of power cuts and black-outs could return to haunt us. The scenario is a familiar one. The economic and environmental challenges remain the same. But the energy debate has a new sense of direction and impetus. Economists, scientists, politicians and environmentalists are increasingly recognizing that nuclear energy is the only major energy source that can provide a secure supply of affordable and environmentally-friendly electricity. The time is ripe forthe nuclear community to seize the initiative".

The conference chairman is Mike Parker from BNFL. Other speakers include Giles Chicester MEP; Pierre Gadonneix, the chairman of EDF and Andris Piebalds EU Commissioner for Energy. Also speaking is Patrick Moore one of the co-founders of Greenpeace, who has become something of a bette noir for the organisation.