A European summit marked by dissension over nuclear power

European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the EU summit in Brussels, Thursday 23 March 2023. AP - Olivier Matthys

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2 min

Meeting for two days in Brussels, the leaders of the Twenty-Seven notably discussed, on Thursday 23 March, Ukraine and ways to strengthen the competitiveness and strategic autonomy of the European economy. An issue on which supporters and detractors of nuclear power are opposed and which has been straining relations between Paris and Berlin for several months.

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With our special envoy in Brussels, Juliette Gheerbrant

Officially, angry issues such as nuclear power have not arrived on the table of the Twenty-Seven. The Council does not like ideological discussions, says the Belgian Prime Minister. However, many countries have ideological positions on the subject. Today's nuclear power poses waste problems, but why not develop the technologies of the future, says Alexander De Croo.

The France, along with a dozen other countries, wants the atomic industry, which produces carbon-free energy, to benefit from the same aid as renewables. Germany but also Luxembourg, Denmark, Spain and Austria are against. It is wrong to consider that nuclear power can be treated like renewable energies, it is believed in the entourage of the Chancellor.

Bilateral meeting between Paris and Berlin

The stakes are considerable: the Commission has finalised several important texts on support for the ecological transition, including the "net zero emissions" plan, which will allow manufacturers to obtain permits more quickly to develop infrastructure and have more funding. Paris wants nuclear power to be eligible.

Ursula von der Leyen replied: "Only zero-emission technologies deemed strategic for the future will have full access to the benefits and benefits of the plan. This is the case for advanced nuclear technologies in some, but not all, areas." Exit the traditional power plants.

The issue is far from over. Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz were to meet this Friday on the sidelines of the Council.

► Also listen: The return to grace of nuclear power in Europe

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Read on on the same topics:

  • European Union
  • Nuclear
  • Ursula von der Leyen
  • Energies
  • Diplomacy
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • Olaf Scholz