"Nuclear energy makes an important contribution to our fight against climate change and our security of energy supply," Piebalgs told a conference of the European Nuclear Assembly in Brussels.

However he added that "we need to strengthen the cooperation between EU member states on the issues related to the safety and security of nuclear installations and the treatment of nuclear waste".

That may be easier said than done.

The European divide of nuclear power is well illustrated by the conflicting approaches of the EU's heavy hitters.

Germany wants the EU to take into account its phasing out of nuclear power when working out the country's carbon dioxide emissions obligations.

Meanwhile France has recently been joined by Britain at the forefront of the pro-nuclear lobby, extolling it as a more reliable, less polluting fuel supply which cuts down on Europe's huge dependence on Russia and the Middle East for increasingly scarce and expensive fossil fuels.

The EU needs substantial investments in order to replace its ageing power plants, said Piebalgs.

A large number of currently operating nuclear power plants will reach the end of their lifespan before 2030.

Piebalgs, while highlighting the "important role" of nuclear power in the overall energy mix, stressed the need to address nuclear safety concerns, nuclear waste management and transparency, which, the European Commission said in a statement "are all important elements for public acceptance of nuclear energy."

Last week the environmental group Greenpeace filed an official complaint with the European Commission alleging illegal Slovakian state aid for a "pre-Chernobyl" nuclear power plant project.

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