"Energy security is a priority for us. It's all linked to what's happening in Europe - climate change and emissions," Babis told reporters. He singled out France as a model nation where nuclear power makes up 75 percent of the power mix, against 30 percent in the Czech Republic.

"France is the leader... of the initiative for cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 to zero, and I understand why," Babis said.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019