The European Union needs “a dynamic legislative framework” in a bid to overcome potential legal objections to the construction of new nuclear power plants, a Greek MEP has said.

Emmanouil Fragkos, a member of the European Parliament for the right-wing Greek Solution party, said the first cycle of investment for possible nuclear reactors in Greece will demand “exceptionally high expenditure and a long-term strategy”.

He warned of orchestrated “local reactions” against nuclear plans from NGOs that are “funded by energy competitors, energy exporters and local intermediaries of energy importers”.

The construction of a nuclear power plant near Akkuyu in Turkey, together with Turkey’s talks with Russia, the US, South Korea, China and Japan on the construction of additional plants, will result in “a huge, unacceptable energy imbalance” in the region, further increasing Turkey’s attractiveness for investments, Fragkos said. He added Europe urgently needs to create a supply chain for new nuclear.