Hit hard by reality! von der Leyen admits: EU abandoning nuclear energy is a strategic mistake

European Commission President von der Leyen said Tuesday local time that reducing nuclear energy’s share in the power mix was a strategic mistake because the group itself is neither a major oil producer nor a natural gas producer, and the ongoing Iran war has exposed this issue.

In a speech at a nuclear energy event in Paris, she stated, “Reducing the share of nuclear energy in the power mix is a policy choice, but I believe Europe’s deviation from this reliable, affordable, and low-emission energy source is a strategic error.”

She added, “In terms of fossil fuels, we are completely dependent on expensive and volatile imported resources, which puts Europe at a structural disadvantage when competing with other regions.”

Currently, the war between the U.S. and Israel against Iran has damaged several major refineries and led to the closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz, causing international oil prices to surge sharply.

Von der Leyen pointed out that in 1990, about one-third of the EU’s electricity came from nuclear energy, but now that figure is only around 15%.

In fact, after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Germany became one of the countries actively promoting a nuclear phase-out policy. Meanwhile, its neighbor France continues to embrace nuclear energy, with nuclear power now accounting for over two-thirds of France’s electricity production.

She further stated that the EU plans to promote the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) to reduce Europe’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Compared to traditional nuclear reactors with about 1,000 MW capacity, SMRs are approximately 300 MW. However, because they can be standardized and mass-produced in factories, they are cheaper and have shorter construction times.

“We see a global revival of nuclear energy, and Europe hopes to be part of it,” von der Leyen said. She also announced that the EU will provide a €200 million (about $233 million) guarantee to promote investment in SMR research and development.

She mentioned that this funding will come from the EU’s carbon emissions trading system. “We hope this new technology will be operational by the early 2030s.”

Von der Leyen also pointed out that the surge in energy prices triggered by the Middle East war is a stark reminder of Europe’s vulnerability as an importer of fossil fuels, highlighting the importance of expanding renewable energy and nuclear power.

She stated, “The logic is very clear: as long as this technology is proven to be safe, deploying it across Europe should be straightforward.”

At the same summit, French President Macron said, “Nuclear energy is key to achieving energy independence and decarbonization, and thus reaching carbon neutrality.”

He added, “From the current geopolitical environment, it is clear that when a country relies heavily on oil and natural gas, these resources can be used as leverage or even as tools to undermine stability.”

Macron proposed unifying nuclear reactor design standards across Europe. This move could benefit France’s state-owned nuclear giant EDF, which has recently faced repeated setbacks in overseas nuclear project bids.

(Source: Caixin)