EU utility chiefs stand up for nuclear power

Chief executives of over 20 electricity and nuclear service firms launched a joint declaration in Brussels on Thursday calling for Europe to keep nuclear power "at the heart" of its energy supply system. Only in this way can the twin challenges of climate change and energy security be faced, they insisted.

The signatories include the bosses of major utilities such as RWE and E.ON of Germany, EDF of France, Electrabel of Belgium and Vatenfall of Sweden - all of them nuclear generators - plus specialist nuclear firms like Westinghouse and Areva.