The Challenges for Coal in an Enlarged Europe

Speaker : Nigel YAXLEY, Vice-President, EURACOAL; Director, UK Coal Mining Ltd.

Coal currently covers almost 28% of power generation in the EU and this proportion will increase after EU Enlargement.

In many Accession Countries, coal (hard coal and lignite) remains a major and reliable energy source. Modern power plants with high efficiencies already ensure clean and competitive generation throughout Europe.  xxxxx 

These modern technologies have the potential to contribute significantly to a sustainable future. The question is whether a balanced energy policy – safe, inexpensive and environmentally sound – would be threatened by one single priority : CO2 ?

Access to coal is easy, cheap and bears no political risk but requires more investment and technological development: Will European policy makers consider the potential of a modern coal and lignite industry and adopt a long-term attitude favourable to it ?

In addition to our usual participants, the dinner-debate was also attended by observers from the Accession Countries in the European Parliament and members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.