EU Court of Justice dismisses appeal against UK aid to Hinkley Point C

摘要

The UK government's plans to subsidize development of a new nuclear power plant are in line with EU state aid and environmental law, according to a ruling from the EU's highest court Sept. 22. The EU Court of Justice dismissed a case brought by Austria, which had sought to block construction of the planned Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in southwest England. "The principle of protection of the environment, the precautionary principle, the 'polluter pays' principle and the principle of sustainability, relied on by Austria in support of its action for annulment, cannot be regarded as precluding, in all circumstances, the grant of state aid for the construction or operation of a nuclear power plant," the court's judgment said.