Guenther Oettinger would propose legally-binding energy conditions for European Union countries “if not enough is achieved voluntarily or through market forces.”

This came as a European Parliament committee assessed the German nominee’s suitability as the EU’s Energy Commissioner.

The current State Premier of Baden-Wuerttemberg, referring to Germany, also said: “We see nuclear energy as a bridging technology, while many countries see it as a long-term technology and others want to give it up completely, which I think we need to deal with.”

The context is the EU’s target of getting 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. Oettinger’s hearing was part of the European Parliament endorsement requirement for the new team of commissioners designated by the bloc’s member states.

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