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
