France to Host "Pro-Nuclear 17-Country Meeting on 16th"... Pressure on EU to Expand Nuclear Power

Urging Inclusion of Nuclear Power in Renewable Energy Expansion Plan

The French government announced that it will hold a high-level meeting targeting pro-nuclear countries in Europe that support the expansion of nuclear power. This is interpreted as pressure to include nuclear power in the European Union (EU)'s renewable energy expansion plans. In Europe, countries opposing nuclear power, including Germany, are resisting the inclusion of nuclear power in renewable energy projects, while voices are growing that nuclear power is the only realistic alternative amid the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

According to Bloomberg on the 15th (local time), the French Ministry of Energy convened a high-level meeting on the 16th with ministers from 17 pro-nuclear countries in Europe to promote the expansion of nuclear power and secure EU support for nuclear energy. The meeting, held in Paris, includes pro-nuclear EU countries such as France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

At the meeting, the advantages of nuclear power and each country's plans for nuclear expansion are expected to be shared. Bloomberg reported, "The draft statement of the meeting includes plans for each country to build an additional 30 to 45 small and large reactors, increasing the EU's nuclear capacity from the current 100 gigawatts (GW) to up to 150 GW by 2050," and "It also contains a message urging the inclusion of nuclear power in the EU's renewable energy expansion plans." The statement also includes expanding the nuclear supply chain to reduce energy dependence on Russia.

However, opposition from anti-nuclear countries centered around Germany is strong, making it difficult to reach an agreement easily. Earlier, in March this year, the EU agreed to increase the renewable energy share target across member states from the existing 32% to 42.5% to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% compared to 1990 levels by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

France, which has a high proportion of nuclear power in its emission reduction process, is strongly insisting that the role of 'low-carbon nuclear hydrogen' should be included in the greenhouse gas reduction and renewable energy expansion plans, while anti-nuclear countries such as Germany oppose this, making it difficult to find common ground.

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