11 Apr (NucNet): Foratom, the European nuclear industry association, said it wants the European Commission to take up a leadership position and propose “concrete solutions” to facilitate investments in nuclear energy alongside other low-carbon technologies. In its response to the EC’s nuclear illustrative programme, or Pinc, published on 4 April 2016, Foratom said better coordination of national licensing authorities and standardisation across the EU would reduce the barriers to deployment of nuclear technologies in member states and enable nuclear vendors and supply chain companies to compete more effectively in the international market. Foratom said it regrets the Pinc does not include ambitious nuclear energy production targets. The Pinc only offers a snapshot of nuclear energy in Europe, Foratom director-general Jean-Pol Poncelet said in the statement. “I believe the EC has missed an opportunity to underline nuclear energy as a reliable low carbon technology and a major contributor to the goals of the Energy Union.” Foratom’s statement is online: http://bit.ly/1SJ42VG