by Kate Abnett and Julia Payne
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Divisions in the European Union on nuclear energy emerged on Monday in Brussels on the sidelines of the meeting of energy ministers, with on one side the supporters of the atom led by the France and on the other the defenders of renewable energies like Austria and Germany.
The two camps agreed their positions in separate meetings before the Energy Council.
The 13 countries, including France, in favor of nuclear energy are calling for a strengthening of European policies in this area, stressing that the recent progress obtained in Brussels on the importance of nuclear power in the energy mix must be translated into concrete projects. and investments.
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“This momentum must now be converted into a comprehensive and supportive European framework for nuclear development, exploring key policy dimensions, including financing,” the group said in a joint statement.
The declaration was signed by Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden. Italy, present at the meeting, did not sign the declaration.
Austria and Germany have led a group of 13 countries asking Brussels to promote renewable energies.
Their joint statement does not directly cite nuclear energy, but according to EU diplomats, their aim is to favor investments in renewable energy and electricity networks rather than atomic energy.
“Funding should focus on cost-effective technologies where common objectives exist,” says the declaration signed by Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
Cyprus, Lithuania and Belgium – which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, a role that typically allows a country to refrain from taking a position – have signed neither proposal. The Netherlands has signed both declarations.
(Reporting by Kate Abnett; French version by Dagmarah Mackos)
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