Germany's decision to abandon nuclear energy by 2022 has obviously brought pressure on its neighbor France

 Germany's decision to abandon nuclear energy by 2022 has obviously brought pressure on its neighbor France, even more directly than the nuclear crisis in Japan's Fukushima.

But it remains unrealistic for France to do the same given different national conditions.

FRANCE'S CONFIDENCE

German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced Monday to shut all 17 nuclear reactors by 2022, a move described by French media as "a big bang" and "historic change."

In the following two days, a number of French officials stood out to reaffirm their confidence in nuclear power, after similar moves following the Fukushima nuclear accident caused by the devastating earthquake and ensuing tsunami on March 11.

"We respect this (Germany's) decision but it does not lead us to change our policy," French Prime Minister Francois Fillon told the BFM TV on Tuesday.

"Currently, there is no alternative which allows to meet European commitments without heavy reliance on nuclear industry," Fillon said, referring to the need of clean energy.

Fillon was supported by Industry Minister Eric Besson, who told the Liberation daily that "The EPR (Evolutionary Power Reactor that France is using) is the safest nuclear reactor in the world."

French leading power supplier EDF is developing a new nuclear plant in Flamanville in Normandy and planning another one in Penly in northern France.

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