Reactions in Continental Europe

Abstract

The impact of Fukushima was dramatic in Western Europe. As this chapter describes, with opposition to nuclear rising to unprecedented levels, the German government shut all the country’s older nuclear plants and decided to phase the rest out by 2022, focusing instead on a major renewable energy expansion programme. Italy voted against a proposed nuclear programme, and Belgium and Switzerland decided to phase out nuclear. A decision on a possible new Dutch reactor was postponed. The nuclear issue was a factor in the French presidential elections, leading to a partial nuclear phase-out plan. The impact was less significant in Eastern Europe, although opposition grew and Bulgaria decided not to go ahead with a new plant.