Divergent views on nuclear energy policy among European Union member states were on display Monday, with France spearheading one camp advocating for nuclear technology while Austria and Germany led another faction pushing for prioritization of renewable energy sources.
The schism among the 27 nations regarding nuclear energy has increasingly disrupted EU policymaking, causing delays as countries debated whether to promote atomic power to meet CO2 emissions targets.
Ahead of a meeting of EU energy ministers, two opposing groups convened to strategize support for their preferred energy technologies. A coalition of 13 pro-nuclear EU countries, led by France, urged for stronger EU policies endorsing nuclear energy. They emphasized the importance of recent breakthroughs with Brussels in recognizing nuclear power’s role in the energy mix and called for concrete projects and funding.
The statement was endorsed by Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden, with Italy participating in the pro-nuclear discussions but abstaining from signing the statement.
Source: Reuters