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Call for enhanced nuclear safety systems in Europe

31 May 2011

More needs to be done to ensure nuclear safety is improved across the European Union (EU), it has been claimed.

A move to carry out stress tests at nuclear power plants has been welcomed by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), but the body has called for such assessments to be made compulsory.

The EESC also advocates providing the European Commission with a greater role in ensuring all facilities are operated safely.

Staffan Nilsson, President of the organization, stated that he hopes all EU member states will carry out the stress tests, adding it is important to establish a "secure, sustainable, low-carbon energy mix" around the world.

Energy group TEPCO recently revealed that a pressure vessel at its Fukushima nuclear power station in Japan was damaged in the March 11th earthquake that struck the country after cooling systems were disrupted by the disaster, causing fuel rods in the reactor to melt.