Greenpeace activists broke into Ardeche's Cruas-Meysse nuclear power plant on November 28 2017. "Demonstrate the ease and security breaches of nuclear installations" was the NGO's goal. A legal dispute has been ongoing for several years. Greenpeace believes the 670,000 euro in compensation it received from the Privas court on January 8, 2020, is an aberration.
"This condemnation is intended to discourage civil disobedience that targets the nuclear industry. Greenpeace is not allowed to negotiate the fine amount, but it is their duty to ensure and protect freedom of expression and association. In a press release, Laura Monnier (legal officer at Greenpeace France) stated that they will use every legal tool to reverse the decision of the Privas Criminal Court. The Court of Appeal of Nimes, Gard, requested additional judicial expertise on Friday, July 1. This was to assess the economic damages suffered by EDF (the operator of the power station) during the intrusion. Greenpeace filed a cassation appeal without waiting for the new expertise.
