Letters: May 2017

The decision for the UK to withdraw from the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), as detailed in the letter by UK Prime Minister Theresa May to European Council President Donald Tusk on 29 March, could create needless uncertainty. In particular, it will affect new nuclear power and research into fusion power, a cleaner alternative to nuclear fission in which the UK has been a global leader for decades. Leaving Euratom will add to the workload of the UK’s nuclear regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation, and pose problems for Hinkley Point C station in Somerset, raising questions over safety inspection regimes.

The UK nuclear industry is reliant on European goods and services, both in the nuclear supply chain and with regard to specialised nuclear skills. Outside of Euratom and the single market, the transport of nuclear fuel, equipment and trained staff will be more complex. Leaving Euratom, will inevitably increase nuclear costs and cause delays. The UK’s standing on the world nuclear stage is predicated on cooperation agreements, derived from the benefit of Euratom membership. Once removed there is no basis for international nuclear cooperation. This will affect the balance of nuclear policies in Europe.