Stakeholders in the nuclear field came together in the plenary meeting of the European Nuclear Energy Forum in Bratislava on 16 and 17 June. The sessions focused on stakeholder engagement in the context of large energy projects, energy security as well as dialogue on energy policy and ENEF’s role in the broader energy debate. High-level speakers, including EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, confirmed that ENEF is an important forum for the EU energy debate. Work to review ENEF’s role and reform the way ENEF operates will continue.

Robert Fico, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, and Bohuslav Sobotka, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, opened the conference together with Commissioner Oettinger and Stéphane Buffetaut, President of the TEN Section, European Economic and Social Committee. Both prime ministers underlined the importance of nuclear energy in ensuring security of supply, Europe’s competitiveness as well as meeting the climate targets. Commissioner Oettinger reaffirmed that all energy sources are needed in the global energy mix, and that nuclear power will play a role for years to come in Europe, with plants under construction and in planning stage. The Commissioner expressed his concern over the situation in Ukraine, and confirmed the EU’s commitment to help Ukraine to overcome the gas crisis.