Due to geographical conditions, Czechia can meet its climate obligations only with the further use and development of nuclear energy sectors, the Czech lower house of parliament, known as the Chamber of Deputies, stated on Tuesday.
In the approved resolution, the Chamber of Deputies called on the European Union to recognize gas as a transitional energy source and nuclear power as an “enabling” source by the end of this year. According to the candidate for the finance minister post, Zbyněk Stanjura, the Czech Senate will also approve this resolution.
Outgoing Prime Minister Andrej Babiš called the resolution of the new deputies empty as, according to Babiš, the relevant European document is already set to be issued on Dec. 22. However, members of Babiš’s ANO movement also voted in favor of the resolution.
“Nuclear energy must be fully recognized as part of the solution to decarbonizing the economy. It cannot be seen only as a ‘transitional’ category but also as a tool that ‘enables’ low-carbon economic transformation and makes it long-term and socially sustainable,” the Chamber of Deputies wrote in the resolution.
According to MPs, if the EU would recognize nuclear power as an environmentally-friendly energy source eligible for support from EU funds, and gas as a transitional source, it would create a more favorable environment for the successful negotiation of the Fit for 55 package.
This stance of the lower house of Czech parliament is the same as the position of Babiš’s government.
The resolution argues that it will not be possible to meet the climate goals as for the Czech Republic as alternative sources of energy are limited due to the country’s geographical position.
There is a dispute between EU member states over the designation of nuclear power as an environmentally clean source eligible for support from EU funds. More than a dozen countries, including France, support nuclear power, but Germany, Austria, and several other countries are against it. In recent weeks, European Commission officials have suggested that nuclear energy might be put in the green category. The decision could be made by Christmas.
