Against a background of Japanese resilience in the face of what appears to be the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl 25 years ago (see 'Background'), Europe appears to be reaching for the panic button for no particular reason.

Oettinger chaired a hectic meeting of ministers, diplomats, regulators and representatives of energy companies who operate nuclear power plants (NPPs) in Brussels yesterday, which was followed by a debate with MEPs at the European Parliament.

Meeting in Brussels on 14 March, EU environment ministers reached a political agreement on the recast of an EU directive on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), proposed by the Commission in 2008.

After nine months of squabbling, EU finance ministers yesterday (15 March) heralded an "historic" agreement on how the EU polices debts and imbalances. If the accord holds true, countries' debt levels, deficits and imbalances will be closely watched and controlled by the EU.

By 2015, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC)'s annual report expects globally installed wind power capacity to have more than doubled to 450 GW from 194.4 GW at the end of 2010.

The 'Global Wind Report: Annual Market Update 2010' assumes an average growth rate of 18.2% per year for wind, compared to 28% cumulative capacity growth over the last decade.

By 2015, annual market additions are expected to reach 60.5 GW, up from 35.8 GW in 2010.

EU Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier is poised to launch a public consultation on online gambling services in the internal market later this month. 

The consultation will seek to address "all relevant public policy challenges and possible internal market issues resulting from the rapid development of both licit and unlawful online gambling offers directed at citizens located in the EU," according to a draft copy of the Green Paper, seen by EurActiv.