Schwarzelühr-Sutter demands more clarity on Swiss nuclear phase out
Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Environment Ministry, Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, has requested information from Switzerland regarding the phasing out of Swiss nuclear power plants. Today in Bern following a talk with Walter Thurnherr, Secretary-General of the Swiss Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), Schwarzelühr-Sutter stated that in light of the concerns of people living in the South Baden region over the safety status of nuclear power plants across the border, there is considerable interest in clarifying Switzerland's phase out plan. Another topic discussed was the search for a final repository in Switzerland.
Schwarzelühr-Sütter voiced the concerns of the German public living near the border over the safety status of Swiss nuclear power plants across the border. Referring to the 2011 decision made by the Swiss Federal Council to gradually phase out nuclear power and do without the planned new developments in this area, Schwarzelühr-Sutter requested more clarity on the phase-out schedule.
She added that the long tradition of cooperation in the area of nuclear safety should in the future focus more on the responsible handling of radioactive waste and the decommissioning of nuclear power plants. Schwarzelühr-Sutter also called for close involvement of the German side in the search for a final repository in Switzerland. Those living near the Swiss border and the municipalities affected must be allowed to participate in each stage of the ongoing process.