Employers Lobby Group Criticizes German Anti-Nuke Trend
The shift away from nuclear energy in the heart of Europe is being seen by employers as a threat to competitiveness, Estonian delegates returning from a Businesseurope meeting said.
Estonian Confederation of Employers council chairman Enn Veskimägi said that German business circles in particular expressed concern at the conference last week about rising energy prices.
"The German government's decision to start closing the nuclear plants in the state on one hand runs counter to European Union climate policy and on the other it raises costs for energy-intensive producers," said Veskimägi.
"The result is that both manufacturing and related R&D will become even more concentrated in Asia, where there is a pragmatic approach to energy policy."
Veskimägi, who represented Estonia at the umbrella organization's meeting along with Confederation director Tarmo Kriis, said the repercussions would be felt locally.
"Estonia will be threatened by a significant jump in price when the electricity market is opened completely, which will harm the competitiveness of Estonain companies in an already weak economic situation.“
Kristopher Rikken