EU-Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen kritisiert die Abkehr der Europäischen Union von der Atomenergie als strategischen Fehler. Sie betont, dass die Union an der weltweiten "Renaissance" der Kernenergie teilhaben müsse, um eine zuverlässige und bezahlbare Energiequelle für die Zukunft zu sichern. SPD-Fraktionschef Matthias Miersch widerspricht dieser Position und verweist auf die hohen Kosten, potenzielle Gefahren und die ungelöste Endlagerfrage als Gründe für den Ausstieg aus der Atomenergie. Miersch kritisiert von der Leyens Aussage als respektlos gegenüber den Betroffenen des Fukushima-Unfalls von 2011. Er betont, dass die Katastrophe in Japan 160.000 Menschen ihr Zuhause und ihre Existenz raubte. Für ihn ist der Ausstieg aus der Atomenergie eine Vernunftentscheidung, die heute als "Geschichtsklitterung" bezeichnet werden könne. Er argumentiert, dass die Kosten für neue Reaktoren unkontrollierbar seien und die Endlagerfrage bis heute nicht gelöst sei. Die EU will nun einen anderen Weg einschlagen und stärker auf kleine modulare Atomreaktoren (SMR) setzen. Von der Leyen erklärt, dass die Verringerung des Anteils der Kernenergie an der Stromversorgung ein bewusster Entscheid gewesen sei, der nun als Fehler angesehen werde. Sie betont die Bedeutung sauberen und bezahlbaren Stroms für die Industrie und die Energiesicherheit, insbesondere im Hinblick auf die aktuelle Krise im Nahen Osten. Miersch lehnt die Rückkehr zur Atomenergie ab und warnt vor staatlichen Subventionen für eine Hochrisikotechnologie. Er argumentiert, dass ohne massive staatliche Unterstützung weltweit kein neues Atomkraftwerk gebaut werde und dass private Investoren das Risiko nicht übernehmen würden.#ursula_von_der_leyen #matthias_miersch #europische_union #fukushima_unfall #deutsches_institut_fr_wirtschaftsforschung
Should Europe Revert to Nuclear Power? The European Union is considering a renewed reliance on nuclear energy to bolster its power supply. This stance was declared by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a nuclear energy summit near Paris, where representatives from about 40 countries gathered. She described the previous shift away from nuclear power as a "strategic error." The summit also featured discussions on the development of small modular reactors (SMRs), a technology that has sparked debate across Europe. The continent’s media remains divided on the issue. Von der Leyen, who previously served as a senior minister in Angela Merkel’s government, played a key role in accelerating Germany’s nuclear phase-out following the Fukushima disaster. Her return to advocating nuclear energy has raised questions about how quickly this strategic shift will translate into concrete EU policies. Critics are skeptical about the feasibility of reviving the nuclear sector, while others argue that the EU must act swiftly to address energy security concerns. Several Eastern European nations have already embarked on nuclear projects without direct EU intervention. For instance, Poland is preparing its first major nuclear project in Pomerania, while Czechia plans to double its nuclear energy output by building new reactors with South Korea. Bulgaria is also expanding its Kozloduj nuclear plant, and multiple countries have formed an industrial alliance to advance SMR technology since 2024. These efforts suggest that nuclear energy is gaining traction in parts of Europe, even as the EU seeks to coordinate a unified approach. However, skepticism persists.#ursula_von_der_leyen #small_modular_reactors #european_union #zaporizhzhia_nuclear_plant #poland
EU Shifts Back to Nuclear Energy, Expert Criticizes Move The European Union is reversing its previous stance on nuclear energy, with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen labeling the earlier abandonment of atomic power as a "strategic error." This shift comes amid growing concerns over energy security, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. However, Volker Quaschning, a professor of regenerative energy systems at HTW Berlin, argues that Germany’s exit from nuclear energy is both logical and necessary. He describes the technology as "very expensive and risky," dismissing the idea of a nuclear energy revival in the country. Quaschning points out that Germany’s six operational nuclear reactors contributed only three percent to the nation’s total energy supply. He emphasizes that this minimal share would offer little relief during the current oil and gas crisis. To make a significant impact, he estimates that Germany would need to build between 50 and 100 new reactors. Such a plan, he argues, is unrealistic, noting that politicians would struggle to gain public support for such a massive infrastructure project. The expert also questions the feasibility of the EU’s push for small modular reactors, which are intended to be cheaper and more scalable. Quaschning highlights that nuclear energy remains three times more costly than solar and wind power, casting doubt on whether mini-reactors could offer meaningful economic advantages. He further criticizes the idea of relying on nuclear plants to provide continuous power, suggesting that this approach would require curtailing solar energy production during the day. Instead, Quaschning advocates for advancing energy storage solutions to manage surplus solar power generated during daylight hours.#middle_east #ursula_von_der_leyen #european_union #volker_quaschning #htw_berlin
EU chief: Phasing out nuclear power was 'strategic mistake' Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, has labeled the EU's shift away from nuclear energy as a "strategic mistake," emphasizing its role in the bloc's energy vulnerabilities. Speaking at a nuclear energy summit near Paris, von der Leyen highlighted Europe's growing reliance on expensive and volatile fossil fuel imports, which she argued has placed the region at a structural disadvantage. She pointed to the ongoing Iran war as a stark example of how fossil fuel dependence can expose nations to geopolitical risks, citing the damage to oil refineries and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route. Von der Leyen called for a renewed focus on nuclear power as a reliable, low-emissions energy source, stating that the EU's decision to reduce its nuclear capacity was a misstep. She announced plans to establish a €200 million fund to advance nuclear innovation and push for the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) across the EU by 2030. These reactors, which produce around 300 megawatts of power compared to traditional reactors' 1,000 megawatts, are described as more affordable and quicker to build due to their potential for mass production in factories. The summit also featured calls for energy independence from French President Emmanuel Macron, who argued that nuclear power is essential for achieving both energy sovereignty and carbon neutrality. Macron noted that reliance on fossil fuels makes nations vulnerable to geopolitical pressures, as seen in Europe's dependence on uranium imports. France, which generates over two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear power, sources much of its natural uranium from politically unstable regions like Niger, Kazakhstan, and Russia.#iran_war #strait_of_hormuz #european_commission #ursula_von_der_leyen #euratom
