Paris, France. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said reducing Europe’s nuclear energy sector was a “strategic mistake” as governments face an energy crunch linked to the Iran war. She said the shift left Europe more dependent on oil and gas imports whose prices have risen.
Von der Leyen’s remarks on nuclear power and energy security
Von der Leyen said Europe produced around a third of its electricity from nuclear power in 1990, but that share has fallen to 15%. She said being “completely dependent on expensive and volatile imports” of fossil fuels puts Europe at a disadvantage compared with other regions.
“This reduction in the share of nuclear was a choice. I believe that it was a strategic mistake for Europe to turn its back on a reliable, affordable source of low-emissions power,” she said.
Germany’s phase-out and response from Berlin
Von der Leyen noted that Germany decided under then-Chancellor Angela Merkel to phase out nuclear power plants due to public opposition and safety concerns after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Von der Leyen served as a minister in Merkel’s government when the decision was made.
Germany’s Environment Minister Carsten Schneider criticised von der Leyen’s “backward-looking strategy” on nuclear power, saying, “Cleaner, safer electricity from wind and sun is cheaper, has long been driving the energy transition, and produces no radioactive waste.”
EU energy mix and budget constraints
The EU has expanded renewable energy, but gas power plants remain an important part of its power mix, and fossil fuels continue to dominate energy consumption in sectors such as transport and heating.
The continued reliance on imported oil and gas exposed European countries to soaring energy prices in 2022 when Russia cut gas deliveries after the invasion of Ukraine.
The EU budget does not directly fund nuclear energy projects because they are not unanimously supported by the bloc’s 27 member governments.
How should Europe balance nuclear power, renewables, and imported fossil fuels in its energy mix?
