Germany has dropped its long-standing opposition to treating nuclear energy as equal to renewables in EU climate policy, according to officials cited by the Financial Times. The policy shift under new Chancellor Friedrich Merz could help unblock EU-wide energy negotiations that have stalled for years.
Under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Germany led efforts—alongside Austria—to prevent nuclear power from being classified as a green energy source on par with solar and wind. This stance was rooted in a national commitment to phase out nuclear energy, a pledge originally made by Angela Merkel following the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan.
In April 2023, Germany closed its last three nuclear power plants, ending over 60 years of nuclear power generation. The shutdown came amid lingering energy security concerns following the loss of Russian gas supplies after the invasion of Ukraine.
France, a strong backer of nuclear energy, frequently clashed with Germany over how nuclear should fit into the EU’s plans to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. These disagreements have slowed progress on EU energy laws and climate policies.
Now, however, officials from both countries say a turning point has arrived. Merz’s administration appears more open to accepting nuclear as a legitimate low-carbon energy source within the EU’s green transition framework. One German official described the policy change as a “sea-change.”
Austria remains opposed, but other EU countries are warming to nuclear again. Denmark and Italy are now exploring small modular reactors (SMRs) to complement renewable energy sources. If Germany’s shift holds, it could pave the way for broader European cooperation on future energy strategy.
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