Last minute changes made EU energy paper more nuclear
By Lisbeth Kirk
Following internal dispute in the European Commission, an important discussion paper on energy was re-worded to promote nuclear energy at the expense of renewable energy resources, German daily Die Welt reports.
The landmark energy paper was published on Wednesday but only after having gone under substantial changes, according to the newspaper report.
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An original version by energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs was subjected to some 66 pages of criticism by other units in the commission.
When the final version emerged, a passage saying that in order to realise the full potential of renewable energy, there must be more political support, had been deleted.
This passage also said off-shore wind energy and tidal power should be encouraged.
The paper has been well received by member states but has been criticised by green groups.