The construction of a nuclear power plant in Turkey

Climate change, targets of CO₂ emissions reductions and energy problems are giving an alibi to some countries to recourse to nuclear energy.

Among them is Turkey, which has recently invited new public bids for the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Akkuyu, on the southern coast on the Mediterranean shores. The nuclear plant will pose a very high radioactivity threat to the region and to the countries of Eastern Mediterranean, especially since the plant will be located in an earthquake zone. Additionally the danger of radioactive wastes transported across the Mediterranean Sea, will pose an additional risk of polluting the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

We call upon all Greens in Europe to:

• Promote conservation of energy and the use of clean and renewable forms of energies, to combat the planet's warming, contrary to the promotion of the "cheap" and "clean" nuclear option
• Prevent the realization of new nuclear power plants especially in countries where safety procedures cannot be assured and where democracy and transparency are still lacking
• Maximize pressure on their governments to prevent the construction of the first nuclear plant in Turkey

We also call upon European Greens to promote the proclamation of Eastern Mediterranean as a non-nuclear zone, where:

• No nuclear power plants will operate
• No nuclear weapons or wastes will be stored
• No military bases for the launching or refueling of nuclear weapons will operate
• No nuclear-powered military ships will sail.