Eleven European countries have committed to "closer cooperation" across the nuclear energy supply chain and to promote "joint industrial projects" in new generating capacity as well as new technologies such as small reactors.
This was reported by Euractiv.
The countries signed a declaration in Stockholm to "jointly confirm their desire to strengthen European cooperation in the field of atomic energy."
"Nuclear power is one of many tools to achieve our climate goals, generate baseload electricity and ensure security of supply," said the declaration, which was signed on the sidelines of a meeting of EU energy ministers hosted by Sweden, which currently holds the EU presidency.
French Energy Transition Minister Agnes Pagnier-Runachet, who initiated the meeting, said the alliance's aim was to "structure cooperation across the entire nuclear value chain" and provide Europe with "all the tools to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050".
The eleven signatories include Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Finland. EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson also took part in the meeting.
The purpose of the cooperation is to promote research and innovation, as well as help establish "unified safety rules in accordance with international best practices," the joint declaration said.
Importantly, it is also aimed at "strengthening industrial cooperation in the development of European nuclear capacities" and exploring "joint industrial projects" for new reactors.