Jun 07 - United Press International



Italy signed an agreement with France marking the return of nuclear power to Italy after a referendum rejected it in 1986, official documents show.

Silvio Berlusconi signed a memorandum of understanding Monday authorizing the return to Italy of nuclear energy, which was turned down by referendum following the 1986 disaster at Chernobyl, ANSA reported.

A statement said the companies, E.ON Italia and Paris-based GDF Suez, "will work in talks with national and local authorities to promote a stable, clear, predictable regulatory framework."

E.ON Italia is part of a large German-based energy corporation, and GDF Suez said between them they have experience from involvement in 30 nuclear plants in Germany, Belgium, France and Sweden.

 There are plans in the agreement for four nuclear plants in Italy and five in France, ANSA said.

The head of Italy's Green Party, Angelo Bonelli, wants a new referendum in February, accusing the government of carrying out a ''sensational fraud against the Italian public because nuclear power is not only dangerous for the environment and health but unsustainable from an economic point of view.''

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