Austria to sue EU over allowing expansion of Hungary's nuclear plant
The Austrian government is due to file a lawsuit against the European Commission for allowing the expansion of a nuclear power plant in neighboring Hungary.
A spokeswoman for Austrian Sustainability Minister Elisabeth Koestinger said Vienna had plans to sue the Commission for the expansion of the Soviet-era Paks nuclear power station, located 100 kilometers south of the Hungarian capital Budapest, arguing that nuclear energy was not viewed by Austria as a way to combat climate change or as being in the common European interest.
"We in the government have agreed that there are sufficient reasons to sue (the Commission)," Koestinger said. "EU assistance is only permissible when it is built on common interest. For us, nuclear energy is neither a sustainable form of energy supply, nor is it an answer to climate change."
The deadline for filing a suit to challenge the executive EU Commission's decision at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg is February 25, according to the spokeswoman.
Last March, the EU regulators approved Hungary's plan to build two new reactors at its Paks nuclear site with the help of Russia's state-owned nuclear technology giant, Rosatom.
The 28-member bloc said Hungarian authorities had agreed to several measures to ensure fair competition, adding that the plant's nominal capacity of 2,000 megawatts would be doubled.
Hungary aims to start construction on the reactors this year, with the first facility expected set for completion in 2025.
A similar legal action was launched by Austria against the European Commission in 2015 over its backing of British plans for a $ 22.24 billion development of the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant.
In a majority of such cases, the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice has found the project in favor of the Commission.
Russia: Poland’s talks on hosting US nuclear weapons ‘dangerous’
‘Europe could die’, President Macron warns at Sorbonne University
European Parliament members criticize EU as 'accomplice’ in Israeli war on Gaza
Iran, China discuss military cooperation
Sanders to Netanyahu: 'Don’t insult American people’s intelligence'
Tehran economic conference: Raeisi hails Iran-Africa expansion of ties
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Severe heat wave hits India as phase 2 of polling begins
What to expect after President Raeisi's visit to Pakistan
China describes Iran as ‘strategic partner' in West Asia
April 25: ‘Axis of Resistance’ operations against Israeli occupation
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
