Leaked EU nuclear stress tests reveal hundreds of defects By Nikolaj Nielsen for EUobserver Hundreds of defects have been found throughout Europe’s nuclear reactors and mostly in France, according to an EU stress test report. The stress tests assess whether any of Europe’s 143 licensed nuclear power plants can withstand extreme events such as earthquakes and terrorists attacks. The tests were introduced after the nuclear accident in Japan's Fukushima some 18 months ago. EU energy commissioner Gunther Oettinger is to present the final report and recommendations in the upcoming EU summit on 18 and 19 October. “ We have reassessed all the nuclear power plants in Europe in the light of Fukushima ,” said commission energy spokesperson Marlene Holzner on Monday (1 October). Oettinger is also scheduled to present his findings to his fellow EU commissioners on Wednesday. The European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (Ensreg), a group of senior officials from the national nuc...