Why Ursula von der Leyen is Rediscovering Nuclear Energy - and What France’s Nuclear Protection Has to Do with it
Münster (Germany) - Commission President Ursula von der Leyen referred to the key role of nuclear energy and renewable energy in electricity generation at the nuclear energy summit in Paris. What at first glance appears to be a turnaround in energy policy actually has a much deeper background.
What von der Leyen said at the nuclear energy summit - electricity from renewable energy and nuclear energy
“But Europe is neither an oil nor a gas producer. For fossil fuels we are completely dependent on expensive and volatile imports, putting us at a structural disadvantage to other regions. The current Middle East crisis gives a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities this creates. But we have home-grown low-carbon energy sources: nuclear and renewables. Together, they can become the joint guarantors of independence, security of supply, and competitiveness - if we get it right - now”, said von der Leyen.
According to the Commission President, reducing the share of nuclear energy was a strategic mistake for Europe. This should change for two reasons. First, both nuclear energy and renewables play a key role in the energy system.
This is not an either-or choice - combined, they are strongest. Europe needs the best overall energy package: clean, affordable, resilient, and European.
Nuclear energy is reliable and supplies electricity around the clock throughout the year. The most efficient energy system therefore combines nuclear energy and renewable energy and is additionally supported by storage, flexibility, and powerful grids.
At the same time, von der Leyen referred to what she described as a worldwide renaissance of nuclear energy in which Europe wants to participate. Last year, the European Commission also adjusted its state aid rules to allow government support for nuclear fission technologies and nuclear fuels.
How France wants to benefit from the EU program
Worldwide, there is currently effectively no commercial market for mini nuclear power plants. Most SMR projects are still in the design stage or very early prototype phases.
Within the European Union, there is also only one country that benefits on a large scale from state-supported civilian nuclear energy: France. The state-owned energy company Électricité de France (EDF) operates the largest nuclear power plant fleet in Europe.
Even there, the development of small modular reactors is still at a very early stage. EDF had tried to enter the SMR market through its subsidiary Nuward. However, after about four years of development, the original design was abandoned due to technical difficulties.
According to information from the French media outlet L’Informé, the planned mini nuclear power plant with about 340 MW capacity had already passed the preliminary design phase (APS) and had entered the detailed design phase (APD). Nevertheless, EDF decided to revise the concept.
Instead of a completely independent design, the company is now relying more on partnerships with other firms as well as on “off-the-shelf technologies.” The goal is to avoid cost overruns and time delays - problems that have already occurred in several European large-reactor projects.
No renaissance of nuclear power plants in sight - electricity from new nuclear plants costs at least 15 cents per kWh
The renaissance of nuclear energy mentioned by the Commission President is not supported by current data. According to the database of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), only three new nuclear power plants with a capacity of just under 3,000 MW were put into operation worldwide in 2025. During the same period, seven older reactors with a total capacity of around 2,800 MW were permanently shut down.
Even in the longer term, there is no clear upswing in nuclear energy. On the contrary: since 2020, 31 nuclear power plants have been newly commissioned worldwide, while 37 reactors have been decommissioned.
Global nuclear capacity is therefore barely growing and remains far behind the rapid expansion of renewable energy.
The reasons for this development are varied. High costs and long construction times mean that new nuclear power plants are almost exclusively built by a few state-owned companies. For example, a single 1,600 MW reactor block (HPC 1) in the United Kingdom (Hinkley Point C) costs around 25 billion euros. The electricity produced is subsidized through a government-guaranteed minimum price of around 15 cents/kWh for 35 years, with this price continuing to rise with British inflation.
Politics: France’s military nuclear protection cannot exist without civilian nuclear energy use
Overall, the statements by Ursula von der Leyen can be interpreted less as a purely energy-policy realignment and more as a political signal to EU countries.
France and the United Kingdom are the only nuclear powers among the European NATO states. In the current security policy debate, the possibility of stronger European deterrence under French nuclear protection is playing an increasingly important role.
Historically, the civilian use of nuclear energy has been closely linked to military nuclear capability. The former French president Valéry Giscard d’Estaing already stated in the 1970s that France’s military nuclear program was so expensive that it would not be sustainable without broad civilian use of nuclear energy.
The civilian nuclear industry provides technological infrastructure, industrial capacity, and qualified personnel - prerequisites that are also necessary for the military nuclear program.
Against this background, the new EU strategy for nuclear technologies can also be understood as a contribution by European states to financing and industrially securing France’s nuclear capability.
Source: IWR Online, 13 Mar 2026
