Status: 02/28/2023 3:30 p.m
The EU countries are at odds over the future role of nuclear energy. At a meeting, eleven countries, including France, agreed to expand nuclear power cooperation. Germany strictly rejects this.
Eleven member states of the European Union have agreed on “enhanced cooperation” in the field of nuclear energy. These include France, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia.
They want to make Europe less dependent on fossil fuels such as lignite and oil. At the meeting of EU energy ministers in Stockholm, they specifically decided to promote “new joint projects” alongside existing nuclear power plants. They also decided to work closely together in the areas of research and security.
The role of nuclear energy creates two camps
On the one hand, countries like Germany, Luxembourg, Austria and Spain are strictly once morest the expansion of nuclear power in Europe to achieve climate goals.
On the other hand, the “nuclear alliance” led by long-standing nuclear power France wants to further expand nuclear power. According to a joint statement by the eleven EU countries, nuclear energy is one of many tools to achieve climate goals. Atomic energy should be used to produce electricity for the needs of consumers in order to guarantee “security of supply” in the future.
France is committed to allowing its nuclear power to count toward renewable energy and “green” hydrogen targets.
It’s “more regarding ideology than practicality”
Luxembourg’s Energy Minister Claude Turmes said supporters of nuclear power are “more regarding ideology than practicality”.
New nuclear power plants would have construction periods of 15 years. “However, if we want to win the race once morest climate change, then we have to be quick,” said Turmes. In addition, nuclear power is two to three times more expensive than generating electricity from wind power or solar energy.
New nuclear alliance at the meeting of the EU energy ministers
Kathrin Schmid, ARD Brussels, February 28, 2023 3:46 p.m
