UK Nuclear Adviser Warns Against EU Rules 'Lock-in'

A top UK nuclear adviser has cautioned against feeling 'locked into' pre-Brexit EU environmental rules as the country seeks to rapidly boost its nuclear power capacity. John Fingleton, author of a government-commissioned review, warned that Whitehall should not dampen efforts to boost domestic capacity through 'risk aversion. ' He emphasized that member states within the EU have flexibility within the framework and that the UK should not accept less flexibility than a member state. The Labour government has promised a 'golden age of nuclear' and is currently negotiating a post-Brexit 'reset' in relations with the EU. Fingleton stressed that the UK should not impose more stringent interpretations of EU regulations than rival nuclear markets in the EU. He argued that a reformed nuclear framework could have achieved better environmental outcomes and lower costs for nuclear projects. Fingleton also cautioned against rushing to implement the recommendations of his 2025 review, suggesting that ministers should take extra time to get the legislation right.