Nuclear energy can serve as a platform for a pragmatic cooperation between East and West based on mutual interests, Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs has said.
Even in times of conflict, rational thinking must be maintained, Péter Szijjártó said at the 8th Central and Eastern Europe Nuclear Industry Congress held in Prague. Europe had been hit by the gravest economic and security challenges of the past decades, with the energy crisis posing a major problem, he said. The continent has not given appropriate answers to the war in Ukraine, the EU’s policy of sanctions has failed, energy resources have diminished while energy prices have soared which all have led to Europe loosing competitiveness, he said, adding that “without nuclear energy, the continent would be unable to regain its competitiveness”. He called nuclear energy important in achieving environmental protection goals. Szijjártó hailed the establishment of a nuclear alliance led by France which already has 16 European member states, and he pledged support for its plan to develop an integrated European nuclear industry reaching 150 GW of nuclear power capacity in the EU by 2050. This means building 30-40 new reactors while extending the life cycle of some operating power plants, he noted.