The European Union and the International Atomic Energy Agency agreed to strengthen their cooperation in a range of nuclear activities, including nuclear science applications, during a meeting in Brussels this week.

NuGeneration has welcomed the British prime minister's comments yesterday about the importance of building a new nuclear power plant in West Cumbria, while the Institution of Mechanical Engineers has said the UK's plan to leave the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) as part of Brexit could threaten new nuclear reactor projects.

Nuclear power will play an important role in meeting the world's future energy needs, International Atomic Energy Agency director general Yukiya Amano told the World Government Summit in Dubai yesterday.

The UK Atomic Energy Authority has published a statement from Jo Johnson, minister of state for universities, science, research and innovation, giving assurance on the future of research into fusion energy.

As the European Commission reports on progress made in delivering and implementing the Energy Union, trade body Foratom has highlighted the importance of nuclear energy in achieving the project's objectives.

UK government ministers are "wrangling over how to support" new nuclear power plant projects, with some senior members of the Treasury "hostile" to direct state subsidy, according to the Financial Times. Philip Hammond, chancellor of the exchequer, and Greg Clark, business secretary, have both taken part in talks over support for new plants in Anglesey and in Cumbria, the British newspaper says, citing unnamed sources.

The US Nuclear Energy Institute has identified nearly $650 million of potential savings through its initiative to ensure nuclear energy's long-term viability through improved efficiency. At the institute's annual briefing to Wall Street analysts on 9 February, its CEO Maria Korsnick highlighted the Delivering the Nuclear Promise program's achievements since its launch about a year ago.

US policymakers understand the potential impact of losing nuclear plants and states are increasingly recognising the benefits of nuclear power to consumers, the economy and the environment, Nuclear Energy Institute CEO Maria Korsnick said yesterday at its annual briefing to Wall Street analysts.

"Nuclear power generation technologies are now cost competitive with fossil fuels and innovation is gathering pace across the sector," British consultancy Lloyd's Register says in a report published today. The report, titled Technology Radar - a Nuclear Perspective, is based on the "insights and opinions of leaders across the sector", as well as the views of almost 600 professionals and experts from utilities, distributors, operators and equipment manufacturers.

The 2008 EU Amendment Act is not a justifiable legal basis for the UK government's belief that Brexit must also mean an exit from Euratom, write Jonathan Leech and Rupert Cowen.

Forward-planning is essential for countries wishing to introduce or expand nuclear power programs, participants at an International Atomic Energy Agency meeting heard last week. Ensuring effective coordination among all organisations involved is important, they agreed.

Rosatom is to receive state funding of $1.78 million for its voluntary contribution to the International Atomic Energy Agency and RUB109.5 million ($1.85 million) for nuclear industry infrastructure development in third countries. The government published the funding plan, part of the 2017-2019 Development of the Nuclear Power Industry state program, on 3 February.