Von der Leyen: nuclear phase-out a mistake
At the start of a nuclear energy summit near Paris, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described Europe's move away from nuclear power as a "strategic mistake". In 1990, roughly one third of Europe's electricity came from nuclear energy; today that figure has dropped to just under 15 percent. Nuclear power is a "reliable and affordable source of low-emission energy," von der Leyen said.
Pragmatic approach to nuclear power needed
It's time to think seriously about rehabilitating nuclear power, De Standaard urges:
“Nuclear energy polarises opinion far more than other energy technologies, and that's a pity. Nuclear energy has advantages and disadvantages. The same goes for other methods of power generation including wind turbines, solar parks and gas-fired power stations. Drawing up an energy strategy involves making rational decisions about the right energy mix. The question should not be whether Europe needs new nuclear power stations, but under what circumstances it might make sense to invest in European nuclear energy.”
Brussels now an advocate
Rzeczpospolita describes how the EU Commission has gradually revised its view of nuclear energy:
“For several years now, the European Commission has been changing its stance on nuclear energy. The breakthrough came in 2022, when it decided that gas and nuclear energy could be considered sustainable energy sources. ... The European Commission has gone from being initially hesitant about accepting nuclear energy as part of its decarbonisation strategies to being an enthusiastic advocate of this technology.”