The Politics of Nuclear Energy in the European Union

Framing the Discourse: Actors, Positions and Dynamics

Pamela Mary Barnes, Ian Barnes

• Publisher: Verlag Barbara Budrich
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9783847406877
• eBook ISBN: 9783847408314
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Inclusive Education

For the foreseeable future the overall use of nuclear electricity in the European Union is unlikely to change significantly despite the controversies surrounding its use amongst the EU's nation states. The author questions the role that nuclear electricity plays in meeting the challenges of providing secure, competitive and sustainable energy to support the development of the low carbon economy in the EU. Analysis presented focuses on the evolution of the discourse on nuclear energy amongst policy makers at European and national levels as well as amongst the public.

Table of contents

• Cover
• The Politics of Nuclear Energy in the European Union. Framing the Discourse: Actors, Positions and Dynamics
• Table of contents
• Foreword
• 1 The future of nuclear energy in the European Union: political consensus and public acceptance
• 2 The Euratom Treaty, past, present and future?
• 3 The European Commission: establishing a “discourse of reassurance”
• 4 No role for the European Parliament – the democratic deficit of nuclear energy
• 5 Nuclear energy: ensuring energy security
• 6 Nuclear energy and sustainability – re-framing the discourse
• 7 Nuclear energy: ‘too costly to meter’
• 8 Riding the ‘nuclear roller coaster’ – changing national policies
• 9 The Public accept a ‘Devil’s’ Bargain
• 10 The European Union and nuclear weapons: the ‘background noise’
• Conclusions: The triumph of ‘cynical’ idealism and ‘pragmatic acceptance’
• List of illustrations
• Terms and Abbreviations
• Annexes
• Index