Fiala discusses Dukovany completion with Macron and von der Leyen

Tirana, May 16 (ČTK special correspondent) - Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala today discussed resolving the completion of the Dukovany nuclear power plant with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the European Political Community (EPC) summit. Fiala told von der Leyen the Czech position and also spoke with her about an appeal by French European Commission Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné.

Earlier this month, Séjourné sent a letter to Czech Industry and Trade Minister Lukáš Vlček urging him to postpone the signing of a contract with South Korean firm KHNP, which won the tender to complete the nuclear facility. However, Fiala did not disclose details of his conversation with the European Commission president today.

"I explained the Czech position to President Macron and the possible consequences of the steps being taken by the French company. And I would not comment on it any further," Fiala said.

The signing of the final agreement with tender winner KHNP was originally scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, but the Regional Court in Brno blocked the signing a day earlier through an interim measure. It acted on a motion by French company EDF, which was unsuccessful in the competition and challenged in court the decision of the Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS). According to the authority, the tender was in order. The court has not yet ruled on EDF's lawsuit.