VIENNA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Austrian government has announced Thursday that it has commenced legal action to sue the European Commission over its approval of an expansion to the Paks Nuclear Power Plant in neighboring Hungary.

Austrian Minister of Sustainability and Tourism Elisabeth Kostinger Thursday confirmed the news in a press release.

In late January Austria said it would take the case to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

Under the plan, Hungary would add two new reactors, doubling the power capacity of the Paks plant, which is located 5 kilometers from Paks in central Hungary.

The total cost of the expansion of the nuclear power plant is estimated at 12 billion U.S. dollars.

The Hungarian opposition criticized the project due to the lack of its transparency, but the new power plant has been evaluated by the European Commission and received all of the permissions earlier 2017. It should be completed in 2023.

"Austria has always been a country that has vehemently spoken out against nuclear power," the minister said, arguing that nuclear power must have "no place in Europe."

"We will not deviate from this stance even by a centimeter," she added.

She also said Austria's nature, environment, and unique landscape means it is compelled to fight this "David versus Goliath" battle.

Austria has a long-standing opposition to nuclear power, and last year already made clear its intentions to oppose the Paks expansion. Enditem

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