To keep up to date with European public opinion, the European Commission carries out regular opinion polls called “Eurobarometer” on different issues. Several ones include nuclear energy-related questions. A Eurobarometer on radioactive waste and one on nuclear safety are conducted every three years. Another one on energy technologies is published every four years. The interviews are usually based on similar questionnaires throughout the time, thus enabling us to monitor the evolution of public opinion on nuclear power.

The results of the Eurobarometer survey, attitudes towards radioactive waste, published in June 2008 show that since the previous Eurobarometer on waste was published in 2005, there has been a gradual and significant evolution of public opinion in favour of nuclear power. There are now almost as many citizens who are in favour of nuclear energy (44%) as are against it (45%). The survey also shows that if those against nuclear felt the issue of radioactive waste management were solved, four out of ten would change their mind. A majority of EU citizens would then be favourable to nuclear (61%). It also shows a huge gap between views expressed in countries with an anti-nuclear culture such as Austria, Cyprus, Malta and Portugal and those in countries where support for nuclear is strong like Hungary (63%), Sweden (62%), the Czech Republic (64%) and Lithuania (64%).

The Eurobarometer on Energy Technologies (May-June 2006) reveals that European citizens now rank nuclear energy as likely to be the third “most used” energy source (34%) in 30 years time - after solar (49%) and wind (40%). Nuclear energy is expected to be a substantial part of the energy mix in the future. The results of the Eurobarometer on Nuclear Safety (February 2007) show that a majority of Europeans (59%) are confident that nuclear power plants can be operated safely.