Europe endorses Belgian state guarantee for nuclear risks

The European Commission has given its approval to the guarantee provided by the Belgian State for operators of nuclear power plants.

This guarantee improves the compensation of potential victims in the event of a nuclear accident, without giving economic advantages to the operators, according to the Commission.

At the end of 2016, the European competition services examined the Belgian law stipulating that responsible nuclear operators are obligated to compensate their victims up to 1.2 billion euros for a period of up to 30 years after a disaster. To cover such a risk, operators have generally turned to the private market, but the law also provides a state guarantee for nuclear damage that can not be covered by special insurance.

The Commission does not consider this guarantee to be state aid, it said on Friday. The level of the annual premium paid by the operators for this guarantee leads to the conclusion that they will not benefit economically and that the insurance market will not be harmed.


The author: Michel DEURINCK

Michel Deurinck, born in Brussels in 1950, started his career in the Belgian civil service, dedicating over 30 years to public service. Upon retirement, he pursued his passion for journalism. Transitioning into this new field, he quickly gained recognition for his insightful reporting on politics and culture. Deurinck's balanced and thoughtful approach to journalism has made him a respected figure in Belgian media.

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