EU energy policy

According to reports, a joint initiative to reclassify nuclear power at EU level with a view to allowing direct state aid has been tabled by France, the UK, Poland and the Czech Republic (1). The Greens have hit out at the reported initiative and have called on EU governments in Council to reject the proposals. Commenting on the reports, Greens/EFA co-president Rebecca Harms stated:

"This latest move to give a boost nuclear power by the nuclear industry's last remaining cheerleaders is a desperate attempt to prop up a flagging technology. Proposals to reclassify nuclear to facilitate state aid or to replace EU renewable energy targets with a low carbon target should be rebuffed by all other EU governments.

"Both countries and businesses are increasingly turning their backs on nuclear, as confirmed by the decision of RWE and EON to pull out of the UK's nuclear plans. The reality is that the prohibitive costs of nuclear and the excessive timeframes involved mean it is unlikely that there will be any significant new build in the EU without massive state subsidies. 

"It is clear that nuclear cannot and will not ever be able to stand on its own two feet. Instead of wasting more funds on this dead-end and risky technology, we should be focusing on maximising the potential of safe and sustainable home-grown renewable energy technologies, which would create thousands of jobs across Europe.

"There is a large consensus on the need to maximise the potential of renewable energy in Europe and we should push forward with policies to promote renewables, instead of wasting time on straw men, like low carbon targets. This means setting ambitious binding targets for renewable energy in 2030 and making the necessary investments to modernise our energy infrastructure, with a view to ensuring our economy is powered by renewable in 2050."

(1) According to reports, the four member states have tabled the proposals in the context of debates in the EU's Council of Ministers on the EU's Energy Roadmap for 2050.