A nuclear coalition with Poland wins big in Brussels

Nuclear power serves the European Union’s climate neutrality aspirations. At least, that is what the majority of the members of the European Parliament decided, by supporting the inclusion of this technology in the Net-Zero Industry Act, which determines EU support. Poland helped forge this majority.

The European Parliament has kept nuclear power on the list of technologies that will help Europe achieve climate neutrality. The Parliament extended the definition of nuclear technology to include conventional energy and nuclear fusion. Nuclear energy can therefore count on the same support as renewable energy.

The motion was supported by 456 votes, 153 MEPs opposed it and 16 did not vote. The Net-Zero Industry Act will now be negotiated in a trilogue between the Commission, Parliament and the Council of the European Union. It is part of the European Green Deal legislation to promote the production of zero-emission technologies by the European industry in order to restore its potential.

Nuclear power is to contribute to this with the support of MEPs in Brussels. The act is intended to speed up licensing procedures and facilitate the support of listed technologies. Poles are among the supporters of nuclear power. They have found themselves in a growing pro-nuclear coalition with France and other countries that own or plan to build reactors. Warsaw plans to have the first reactor in 2033 and 6-9 GW in nuclear capacity by 2043.

Wojciech Jakóbik