{
  "id": 7937794,
  "title": "Don’t get ‘locked in’ by EU rules, top nuclear adviser warns Burnham",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/dont-get-locked-in-by-eu-rules-top-nuclear-adviser-warns-burnham",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T02:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-rules-nuclear-power-adviser-john-fingleton-andy-burnham/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Britain must not feel \"locked into\" outdated EU environmental rules as it works to expand its nuclear power capacity, warned a top government adviser. John Fingleton, who led a review into red tape hindering new nuclear projects, cautioned that officials should not let \"risk aversion\" stifle efforts to boost domestic nuclear power. He argued that UK member states retain considerable flexibility within EU frameworks post-Brexit, and should not accept less flexibility than other EU member states. The Labour government, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, has pledged a \"golden age of nuclear\" with plans for Sizewell C and Rolls-Royce's small modular reactors, but faces the closure of four of the UK's five existing power stations by 2030. Fingleton's 2025 review called for a \"radical reset\" of nuclear regulations, including eliminating duplication across laws. The UK is currently negotiating a post-Brexit \"reset\" with the EU, seeking \"dynamic alignment\" in electricity markets. While nuclear policy and environmental protections have not yet been discussed, the UK has already transposed EU-compliant habitat regulations into domestic law post-Brexit. Fingleton stressed the UK should not adopt stricter interpretations of these regulations than other EU nuclear markets. He cautioned against creating an artificial trade-off between environment and development by making rules overly site-specific. Fingleton suggested that with a reformed nuclear framework, developers could have spent less on costly measures like the \"fish disco\" at Hinkley Point C and instead invested in better environmental outcomes. He advised ministers not to rush the implementation of his review's recommendations, emphasizing the importance of getting legislation right over speed.",
  "summary": "John Fingleton tells POLITICO \"risk aversion\" in Whitehall must not slow Britain's dash for new nuclear.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}