'Nuclear alliance' to meet again at France's initiative - EURACTIV

‘Nuclear alliance’ to meet again at France’s initiative - EURACTIV.com
By Paul Messad | EURACTIV France | translated by Daniel Eck Est. 3min 10-07-2023 (updated: 11-07-2023 ) Content-Type: News News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The alliance's first formal meeting in Paris, on 16 May, brought together 15 representatives of EU member states, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, and representatives for the UK. [Conseil de l'UE / Union européenne] EURACTIV is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: FrançaisPrint Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram The group of ‘nuclear alliance’ states will meet with the European Commission on the fringes of the informal EU energy ministers’ meeting on Tuesday (11 July) to seek guarantees on the inclusion of nuclear power in the EU’s energy transition. Read the original French story here. In February, French Energy Transition Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher launched an alliance with several pro-nuclear EU member states. The alliance’s first formal meeting in Paris, on 16 May, brought together 15 representatives of EU member states, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, and representatives for the UK. Members of the alliance – minus the UK – will again meet with Simson on the margins of the informal EU energy ministers’ meeting under the Spanish EU presidency in Valladolid Tuesday (11 July). The alliance is expected to present a joint declaration to the European Commission in which they will ask it to “include nuclear energy in all relevant texts currently being prepared” on the EU’s energy transition, according to Pannier-Runacher’s office, though the office did not specify which texts were concerned. At the mid-May meeting in Paris, members of the alliance already signed a joint declaration urging the Commission to promote the inclusion of nuclear power “in the EU’s energy strategy”. According to them, the EU could have more than 150 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power on its territory by 2050. Nuclear alliance aims for 150 GW of nuclear capacity in EU by 2050 The 16 European countries participating in the “nuclear alliance” will prepare a roadmap to develop an integrated European nuclear industry reaching 150 GW of nuclear power capacity in the EU’s electricity mix by 2050. France subsequently fought hard to obtain a declaration from the Commission as part of the negotiations on the Renewable Energy Directive, formally acknowledging the role of “other non-fossil energy sources” in achieving “climate neutrality by 2050”. In early July, Pannier-Runacher’s office told EURACTIV France that these words clearly recognised the contribution of nuclear energy to the EU’s climate objectives. The number of participants at Tuesday’s meeting is not yet guaranteed due to logistical and transport issues, Pannier-Runacher’s office told EURACTIV France. The minister’s cabinet did not specify whether the so-called “renewables friendly” group, which Austria set up to counterbalance the “nuclear alliance”, would also meet on Tuesday. Despite not seeing eye to eye on nuclear, France has joined the group, citing its high level of renewable energy, and promises to “participate at all meetings”, the ministry added. France finally satisfied with EU deal on renewables directive The EU-27 reached a compromise on Friday (16 June) which satisfies French interests on nuclear power, without the need to reopen negotiations on the Renewable Energy Directive. [Edited by Frédéric Simon/Nathalie Weatherald] Read more with EURACTIV France announces more financing for energy renovationsFrench Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced on Sunday (9 July) that the government would release an additional €7 billion from 2024 to finance the green transition, part of which will be allocated to energy renovations. Languages: FrançaisPrint Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Topics "renewable friendly" group Agnès Pannier-Runacher Energy & Environment EU Council Presidency EU energy summit Nuclear nuclear alliance Spanish presidency