The European Commission asked the Czech government to postpone the signing of a contract for the construction of two new nuclear units at the Dukovany power plant, because it is investigating whether the Korean company KHNP has been provided with foreign subsidies that may disrupt the internal market of the European Union, Czech news agency CTK reported.
“We received the letter from the French commissioner, and we are currently evaluating it and preparing a response,” Industry and Trade Minister Lukáš Vlček confirmed in an interview with the Czech Television. He noted it “reflects the views and comments of EDF.” He thinks “it is no coincidence” that the appeal came from the French Commissioner.
A spokesman for the European Commission today rejected accusations that the Vice-President of the European Commission, Frenchman Stéphane Séjourné, defended French interests in connection with the plans for a contract with Dukovany.
The Czechs seem increasingly frustrated by the wrangling over the contract. Daniel Beneš, the head of ČEZ, said the French side is not interested in winning the dispute over the completion of Dukovany, but in ensuring that the power plant is not built in the Czech Republic at all.
The signing of the final agreement on Dukovany was also blocked by the Regional Court in Brno last week.