Thierry Breton, EU Internal Market Commissioner, reiterated his support for nuclear energy to French MEPs. He stressed its importance as a promising sector and as a means to decarbonise the EU (Eractiv: 02.06.23). This was done in relation to the EU’s response to US subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Revolutionary proposal: EU Commission supports innovative nuclear energy in the fight against climate change
In March, the European Commission presented the proposal for a Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA). This law was proposed in response to the American Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). It designates technologies to receive financial and legal relief for their development.
“Nuclear energy is part of it, and I fought for it,” Breton told deputies of the French Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Economic Affairs Committee during questioning on the NZIA.
Bild: European Parliament from EU, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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The EU Commission’s March proposal was adopted at the last minute after protracted negotiations. Previously, other commissioners had spoken out against the inclusion of nuclear energy. The compromise only includes innovative forms of nuclear energy, such as fourth generation (small modular reactors, liquid salt reactors, nuclear fusion, etc.). Such plants are not currently in production.
In addition, nuclear energy cannot benefit from all the facilitations granted by the EU to other “strategic” technologies such as solar energy, wind energy or heat pumps.
Breton demands: Nuclear power is indispensable for achieving EU decarbonisation targets
“It is impossible to achieve the EU’s decarbonisation target by 2050 without nuclear power,” Breton stressed. He reiterated his support for nuclear power in front of French MEPs. France has largely agreed to revive nuclear power.
“We need to increase our capacity in nuclear power and continue to invest,” Breton said. He stressed that this could give young people the incentive to work in these sectors. In the past, they would have been rather discouraged by the pollitics.
Speaking to French MEPs, the EU Commissioner also defended the decision not to classify nuclear power as “strategic”.
Safety concerns: Why nuclear power is disadvantaged – EU decision causes controversy
Safety concerns make it difficult to give nuclear power the same advantages as other technologies, such as faster approval procedures for the construction of power plants. Breton stressed that certain contracts are still necessary.
Some of the facilitations granted by the EU to “strategic” technologies, such as the status of a “priority project”, the possibility of public-private investments and the exchange of information within the EU, could also be applicable to nuclear power. Breton admitted, however, that the term “strategic” technologies was “unfortunate”.
The proposal is now in the hands of MEPs, which is regretted by supporters of nuclear energy.
The rapporteur of the proposal, EPP MEP Christian Ehler (CDU), has removed all mentions of nuclear energy from the list of eligible technologies for the development of green industry in the EU.
Members of the European Parliament’s Energy Committee have until 19 June to amend the report text before the committee vote scheduled for 12 November.
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