Meeting of Ministers of the Visegrad Group countries on nuclear energy
19.11.2021
The Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, Adam Guibourgé-Czetwertyński, together with the Slovak Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economy, Karol Galek and the Czech Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, paid a visit to Paks in Hungary. The meeting was held at the invitation of Minister János Süla, responsible for the planning, construction and commissioning of two new units at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, as part of Hungarian Presidency of the Visegrad Group. The event was held on 18 November 2021.
During the meeting, the challenges facing the nuclear energy sector and the role of this source in the EU’s climate and energy policy were discussed.
The visit was complemented by the signing of a joint statement of V4 Ministers responsible for energy on path towards climate neutrality.
The statement stated that “the speed of climate change means that in order to achieve the common European climate and energy goals, the European Union urgently needs to establish a support framework for all projects and technologies able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Also, “the need to recognise the role of nuclear energy in the EU’s energy and climate policy and other relevant policies from the point of view of decarbonisation, security of supply and finance” was reaffirmed.
The statement called on the European Commission to present, as soon as possible, but no later than by the end of November 2021, the announced complementary delegated act to the Taxonomy Regulation, which, on an objective scientific basis, should also cover the nuclear energy and natural gas sectors. Such measures will ensure a level playing field and prevent destabilisation and distortion of the energy market.
It was also pointed out that the Member States should be guaranteed the maximum flexibility in using income from the Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) so as to support the development of all clean technologies needed to achieve the emission reduction goals.