France

The future of nuclear power in France is back in the spotlight after Greenpeace activists broke into a power plant on Monday in a bid to highlight the lack of security. The issue is set to play a key role in next year’s presidential election.

A court fined French state energy firm EDF €1.5 million on Thursday for hiring computer hackers to access the files of the former head of campaigns for Greenpeace France in 2006. EDF runs France's 58 nuclear power plants.

The French government announced on Tuesday that state-owned electricity firm EDF will sign a broad partnership deal with Areva, which manufactures nuclear reactors, to help France regain a leading role in the nuclear energy sector.

French oil giant Total has announced the closure of its Dunkirk refinery but vowed to protect workers, for whom it plans restructuring measures including a new fuel depot and training centre.