The conference will address one of the EU’s founding treaties, Euratom, whose function is to promote nuclear energy in the EU and outside EU countries.

The goal of the treaty is in direct contradiction to the energy policy of the majority of EU member states, who either never used nuclear power or have decided a phase-out.

The conference offers the ideal forum to discuss Euratom by bringing together NGOs, government officials from EU member states, Euratom representatives and experts from related fields. The aim of the conference is – through an open exchange of opinions – to serve as the starting point for a serious effort to reform the Euratom treaty.

The conference will focus on providing information on Euratom and developing political strategies for its reform by examining various options and mechanisms as well as defining what concrete steps need to be taken. The conference should examine in what direction a reform should be directed and what the priorities that are shared by the involved players.

• Welcome and opening by the patrons and the organisers of the event

• Olivier Deleuze, State Secretary for Energy and Sustainable Development, Ministry for Mobility and Transport, Belgium: "Euratom in an open energy market" 

• Peer de Rijk, Coordinator, World Information Service on Energy, The Netherlands: "Need for Euratom reform from a NGO perspective" 

Discussion

11:00 – 11:30
Coffee break

• Petko Kovatchev, Executive Director, Centre for Environmental Information & Education - CEE Bankwatch Network, Bulgaria: "EURATOM project in Bulgaria – the role of the EU Commission and of the Bulgarian authorities"

• Antonio Tricarico, Coordinator, Campagna per la Riforma della Banca Mondiale, Italy: "Cernavoda II – A new reactor for Romania?" 

• Antony Froggatt, Consultant, UK: "The extension of the Euratom loan ceiling: an opportunity for Euratom reform?" 

Discussion

12:30 – 14:00
Lunch

• Nina Commeau-Yannoussis, Head of Unit "Euratom Coordination and Nuclear Safety" of DG TREN, European Commission, Belgium: "Why we still need EURATOM" 

• Andreas Molin, Head of Division Nuclear co-ordination of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, Austria: "Possibilities to phase out or reform EURATOM"

• Jo Leinen, MEP, European Parliament, Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Belgium: "The Euratom
  Treaty and the Constitutional Future of Europe"
  

Discussion

16:00 – 16:30
Coffee break

Friends of the Earth Europe is the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, campaigning to protect the environment and create sustainable societies. Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE) unites more than 30 national member organisations with thousands of local groups.
www.foeeurope.org

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung was founded in 1925 as a political legacy of Germany's first democratically elected president, Friedrich Ebert. It is a non-profit making, political public-interest institution committed to the principles and basic values of social democracy in its educational and policy-orientated work.
www.fesbrussels.org