Kurz slams nuclear power on first foreign trip as new Austrian PM Austria’s new chancellor Sebastian Kurz criticises nuclear power on his first trip abroad as he meets counterparts from four ex-Communist central European countries in Prague. After talks with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Hungary’s Viktor Orban, Poland’s Mateusz Morawiecki and Slovakia’s Peter Pellegrini, Kurz promoted renewable resources other than nuclear energy to help EU member countries switch from coal-fired power plants to greener sources. While Kurz’s government comprising his conservative People’s Party and the Greens has vowed to make Austria carbon neutral by 2040, against the EU target of 2050, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia largely depend on nuclear power while Poland depends on coal-fired resources. The Czech Republic has recently unveiled a plan to build a new unit at its Dukovany nuclear power station, while Pellegrini said Slovakia was working on the completion of its Mochovce nuclear plant. Kurz’s new government was sworn in on January 7. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES