Europe’s second highest court has rejected Austrian objections to the planned Hinkley Point C nuclear station in southwest England, saying British government aid offered to the project did not violate EU rules. The European Commission approved the project in October 2014, saying it did not see any competition issues, but a previous Austrian government took issue with the decision and filed a case with the General Court in 2015, arguing that it contradicted EU policy of supporting renewable energy. Luxembourg has also challenged the approval, backed by a group of more than 20 academics, politicians and renewable energy officials who say it distorts competition and flouts rules on government subsidies. But the court noted in its decision today that the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and the UK intervened in support of the EC. The General Court dismissed Austria’s arguments against the project. The court said: “The General Court confirms the decision by which the Commission approved the aid provided by the UK in favour of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station,” judges said. The judges said Britain has the right to choose between the different energy sources.
Nucnet 12th July 2018 read more »
