Legal arguments are emerging in the battle to stop the EU from classifying nuclear energy as environmentally friendly.
With prospects dim for changing the EU’s mind politically, Austria and Luxembourg plan to join activists in taking Brussels to court if the disputed plans go ahead.
Germany also opposes the plans, which would include nuclear reactors on a list of climate-friendly investments known as the EU taxonomy, although Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government has held back from supporting legal action.
But a lobby group called German Environmental Aid published a 25-page legal argument on Monday which accuses the European Commission of breaching the bloc’s foundational treaties.
Lawyers cited an article of the Lisbon Treaty which calls for environmental policy to be “based on the precautionary principle” – a requirement they said was breached by the hazards of radioactive waste.
This means measures to protect the planet should not only kick in when there is “imminent damage” but when risks are identified in the first place, they said.
The report said nuclear power failed the EU’s test of “doing no significant harm” to other environmental objectives, a principle written into the taxonomy regulations.
This position has previously been rejected by an EU-commissioned expert panel, which said last year that nuclear did no more harm than other energy sources if properly regulated.
Pro-nuclear countries such as France regard it as a reliable, low-carbon power source that reduces Europe’s reliance on imported fossil fuels. The EU's Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton supports the use of atomic energy.
Critics such as Germany and Austria highlight the risks of an accident such as Fukushima or Chernobyl and the problems of storing long-term waste.
The legal report also identified procedural issues over the EU’s use of delegated powers that lawyers claimed had expired.
“If nuclear and natural gas are really included in the taxonomy, Germany must join Austria and Luxembourg’s lawsuit,” said the lobby group’s director Sascha Mueller-Kraenner.
Unlike environmental activists, Germany does not object to the inclusion of natural gas, which it expects to rely on during the next decade as it moves away from nuclear and coal.
German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke said she would make Berlin’s opposition to nuclear plants known in EU meetings.
“Our position will be a clear no to including atomic energy in the taxonomy,” Ms Lemke told German television.
But Kevin Kuehnert, the secretary general of the ruling Social Democrats, told reporters it was “completely utopian” to think Germany could stop the EU’s plan in its tracks.
Germany was “clearly in a minority” in the 27-member bloc, he said.
Any veto would require the backing of a large majority of EU members, with nuclear sceptics unlikely to have the necessary numbers. Another possibility would be to vote the proposal down in the European Parliament.
Campaigners were further angered when the EU published its plans on New Year’s Day and allocated less than two weeks for feedback.
However, the European Commission announced on Monday that the deadline for responses would be extended until January 21 rather than expiring on Wednesday.
“The reason has been postponed by a week and the reason is basically to give a bit more time” for experts to submit their views, said European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer.
Coming soon
Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura
When the W Dubai – The Palm hotel opens at the end of this year, one of the highlights will be Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant, Torno Subito, which promises “to take guests on a journey back to 1960s Italy”. It is the three Michelinstarred chef’s first venture in Dubai and should be every bit as ambitious as you would expect from the man whose restaurant in Italy, Osteria Francescana, was crowned number one in this year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Akira Back Dubai
Another exciting opening at the W Dubai – The Palm hotel is South Korean chef Akira Back’s new restaurant, which will continue to showcase some of the finest Asian food in the world. Back, whose Seoul restaurant, Dosa, won a Michelin star last year, describes his menu as, “an innovative Japanese cuisine prepared with a Korean accent”.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The highly experimental chef, whose dishes are as much about spectacle as taste, opens his first restaurant in Dubai next year. Housed at The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will feature contemporary twists on recipes that date back to the 1300s, including goats’ milk cheesecake. Always remember with a Blumenthal dish: nothing is quite as it seems.
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Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
Company profile
Name: One Good Thing
Founders: Bridgett Lau and Micheal Cooke
Based in: Dubai
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 5 employees
Stage: Looking for seed funding
Investors: Self-funded and seeking external investors
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
RESULTS
Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO
Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke
Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke
Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO
Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision
Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision
Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO
Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)
Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)
Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision
Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke
Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO
Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
