All EU nuclear plants to be tested this year

STRESS tests on all nuclear plants in the EU will be carried out by the end of the year, the European Commission has said.

A voluntary accord struck at talks in Brussels is designed to bolster current high safety standards in the wake of the Japanese nuclear crisis, said EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger.

He was speaking after talks with experts from national nuclear safety authorities, nuclear plant operators and plant suppliers in the EU.