Austria, which is well known for having represented an anti-nuclear stance for several decades now, has submitted its official standpoint to the European Commission within the framework of the formal competition law investigation concerning the Paks II project, just as several other member states are expected to do in favour of the Paks II project by the 12 February 2016 deadline.

The submission of the Austrian standpoint was to be expected in view of the fact that the State of Austria’s anti-nuclear standpoint had already been made clear regarding to the British Hinkley Point C project, with relation to which it filed a legal complaint against the EC’s decision to authorise state funding for the project. The Hungarian Government will also be involved in the procedure on the side of the European Commission and the British Government.

The State of Austria is using the same analogy to counter the Paks II project, citing the presumed effects of possible state funding. Unfortunately, the Austrian party is not suitably informed with relation to the case, and accordingly did not recognise that this argument cannot be used with regard to the Paks II project, because not even the European Commission, who has been aware of the exact details of the project for almost two years, has identified the presence of state funding during the course of negotiations.

It is important to note with relation to the investigation that according to the Treaties of the European Union, every member state has the right to determine its own energy mix. The Hungarian National Assembly has confirmed that it agrees with the long-term preservation of the current ratio of nuclear energy production every year since 2009, in view of the fact that it assures a supply of cheap and safe electricity to Hungarian households and industry.

It is the firm standpoint of the Hungarian Government that the Paks II project does not include state funding and is also a competitive and profitable investment under free market conditions. The Hungarian Government officially notified the Commission of its standpoint on 22 May 2015. The Government’s standpoint has also been confirmed by the Rothschild Bank’s detailed economic analysis prepared using international comparative data, which is available in full on the project secretariat’s website and on the kormany.hu government portal.

(Prime Minister's Office)