European Union Member States have shown divisions over nuclear energy policy, with one camp led by France advocating for technological advancements, while another, led by Germany and Austria, favors prioritizing renewable energy sources.
The rift among the 27 EU countries regarding nuclear energy has increasingly played a disruptive role in policymaking within the European Union over the past year, causing delays as countries argue over whether to bolster atomic energy to meet carbon dioxide emission targets.
Ahead of the EU Energy Ministers’ meeting today, two competing factions of ministers gathered to strategize on supporting their preferred energy technologies.
A group of 13 EU countries supportive of nuclear energy, led by France, called for stronger EU policies on nuclear energy. They emphasized that recent breakthroughs with Brussels recognizing the importance of nuclear energy in the energy mix should now translate into tangible projects and funding.
In a joint statement, the group stated, “This momentum must now be translated into a comprehensive and enabling European framework for nuclear development, and exploring key policy dimensions, including financing.”
Signing onto the statement were Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden. Italy participated in the pro-nuclear meeting but did not sign the statement.
Simultaneously, Austria and Germany led a call that included 13 countries urging Brussels to encourage renewable energy instead. While the statement did not directly mention nuclear energy, EU diplomats indicated the goal was to emphasize investments in renewable energy and electricity networks rather than atomic energy.
The statement emphasized, “Funding should focus on cost-effective technologies where common goals exist.”
The European Union has common goals for expanding renewable energy, but there are no common goals for nuclear energy. Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain signed onto the statement. Cyprus, Lithuania, and Belgium, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, did not sign onto either statement, with the Netherlands signing both.
The divide over nuclear energy reflects broader divisions within the European Union.
France, which derives about 70% of its energy from nuclear power, is the leading advocate for nuclear energy in Europe. Among France’s allies are some of the poorer Eastern European countries, which either have nuclear reactors or plan to build them to reduce reliance on heavily polluting coal economies.
