European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron have called for a renewed expansion of civilian nuclear power in Europe, arguing that the ongoing US–Israel war with Iran has highlighted the continent’s vulnerability to imported fossil fuels.
Speaking at the second Nuclear Energy Summit near Paris, von der Leyen said Europe’s earlier retreat from nuclear energy had been a “strategic mistake,” leaving the region exposed to volatile global energy markets.
Macron added that nuclear power is essential for achieving energy sovereignty, while supporting decarbonisation and carbon neutrality.
Key developments
• The EU announced a €200 million guarantee to support investment in small modular reactors (SMRs).
• Brussels aims to make SMR technology operational in Europe by the early 2030s.
• Nuclear power’s share of Europe’s electricity has fallen from around one-third in 1990 to roughly 15% today.
• Greenpeace activists briefly disrupted the summit, criticising nuclear energy and alleged links with Russia’s Rosatom.
Globally, nuclear energy produces roughly 9% of electricity, according to the World Nuclear Association, though concerns over safety and nuclear waste remain contested.
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