Hungary has announced that it stands by the upgrade of the Paks nuclear power plant despite the Austrian government declaring it would lodge an appeal with the European Court of Justice.
Austria‘s environment ministry said that it would ask the court to annul the European Commission’s resolution approving the nuclear power plant’s expansion.
According to MTI, Austria will question whether the commission’s decision serves the interests of the community. The Austrian ministry of the environment believes that is the only case in which supporting nuclear energy would be acceptable.
The ministry said that the Austrian government refuses the arguments put forward by Budapest and believes there are other sources that could cover Hungary’s energy needs.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said the upgrade project was being implemented with the oversight and authorization of EU, Hungarian and international authorities.
“The Austrian appeal has no impact on the EC’s approval of the upgrade and the project will go forward without interruption,” it added.
The statement added that the Austrian government’s announcement was to be expected, noting that its opposition to nuclear power had already been made clear when it filed a lawsuit against the EC for its approval of the UK providing state aid to the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station project.
The Prime Minister’s Office added that Hungary will back the EC and the UK government in that lawsuit. The EC approved the Paks upgrade in November 2014.