France and Britain agree on nuclear energy forum

French president Jacques Chirac and British prime minister Tony Blair agreed today to create a forum to explore working together on nuclear energy.

“The forum will provide a vehicle to discuss Franco-British nuclear cooperation, including research, skills, decommissioning and waste management,” a statement from the French president’s office said.

Energy topped the agenda at the brief summit in Paris, but discussion between the leaders also touched on climate change, defence and the situation in the Middle East.

Blair has recently suggested that Britain consider building a new generation of nuclear power plants. The proposal raised hackles, with critics noting that the country hasn’t yet figured out what do with the nuclear waste it already had.

France, which relies heavily on nuclear energy, hailed the proposal.

The leaders called for a long-term vision and for better dialogue between the EU countries that produce energy and those that buy it, proposing an energy group to meet during energy crisis situations.

“This group would monitor the supply-demand situation, and facilitate rapid reaction in the event of a crisis,” the statement said.