Although the discussion of the 27 Heads of State or Government of the Member States on the increase in energy prices did not lead to any significant announcement at the end of the European Council of 21 and 22 October, the debate nevertheless revealed growing support for nuclear energy among the Member States, including for its inclusion in the EU taxonomy.
“There has not been such clear and broad support in the European Council for the use of nuclear energy for over 4 years”, said French President Emmanuel Macron at a press conference after the summit.
“With the exception of a number of Member States you can count on one hand, all the others have asked the European Commission to present this delegated act quickly”, a source at the Élysée Palace also said.
According to the same source, the need for the Commission to present the delegated act on gas and nuclear was even temporarily included in the text of the conclusions prepared by the European Council.
Although this sentence does not appear in the adopted conclusions (see EUROPE 12817/1), the text now stresses the importance of “taking into account the diversity and specificity of situations of the Member States”.
According to Mr Macron, the Commission has also reiterated its commitment to presenting the delegated act by the end of the year, contrary to what recent statements by Financial Services Commissioner Mairead McGuinness suggested (see EUROPE 12816/19).
During the discussion between the EU27, the Netherlands reportedly expressed its support for the inclusion of nuclear power in the EU taxonomy, joining a dozen other countries, including France (see EUROPE 12810/24).
Ireland, Latvia and Sweden, on the other hand, have reportedly indicated that they see nuclear power as a transitional energy source.
According to our information, Greece has stated that it would be beneficial for the EU to have nuclear in its energy mix.
On the other hand, Luxembourg and Austria are said to have reiterated their opposition to nuclear power, considering it risky and expensive. On his arrival at the summit, the new Austrian Chancellor, Alexander Schallenberg, insisted from the outset that the current surge in energy prices should not make nuclear power “attractive”.
Asked about the issue after the summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel made it clear that there was no agreement in the European Council on including nuclear power in the taxonomy. She also highlighted that she did not share France’s position on the atomic issue.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, for her part, mentioned the subject spontaneously at the press conference closing the summit: “It is obvious that we need more renewables and clean energy (...) Alongside this, we need a stable source, nuclear, and during the transition of course, natural gas”.
She then provided assurances that the Commission would present a delegated act, without however specifying a date. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot with the editorial staff)