EU calls subsidy for energy from gas and nuclear power 'sustainable'

The European Commission has labeled investments in gas-fired power plants and nuclear power plants as ‘sustainable’. This means that such energy sources will remain eligible for European and national subsidies under certain conditions for the next fifteen years.

The decision has already been rejected by several EU countries, including the Netherlands. Moreover, Austria and Luxembourg have announced they will take the decision to the European Court to challenge it. EU experts and European political groups have also opposed it because Brussels is not adhering to its own agreements on a cleaner environment and less global warming.

These parties base their position on scientific conclusions that new investments in fossil fuels are taboo (to meet the Paris Agreement). They also emphasize the dangers of nuclear waste and nuclear power plants to the environment.

The Netherlands has informed the European Commission that it opposes plans to classify investments in natural gas as green projects but will accept the approval of nuclear energy under certain restrictions. EU countries can only block the decision if more than 20 of the 27 countries reject it. Additionally, a majority in the European Parliament can block this taxonomy classification.

France is a strong supporter of more investments in nuclear energy to counter (‘environmentally polluting’) gas-fired plants, while Germany has decided to close all (‘dangerous’) nuclear power plants. Eastern European countries want gas-fired power plants so they can close their outdated (‘even more polluting’) coal-fired stations.

Dutch Member of the European Parliament Paul Tang (PvdA) negotiated with other political groups on the controversial taxonomy for sustainable investments. “The European Commission is discrediting the Netherlands. The government's final attempt to convince Brussels unfortunately failed. The government must now be consistent and use their voting rights to reject this proposal.”

The social democrats in the European Parliament have already spoken out strongly against this proposal. They want gas and fossil fuels to be classified not as green but as ‘orange’. Paul Tang: “We also don’t want ‘green’ subsidies to go to gas plants that only delay and do not accelerate the transition. That could happen under the current proposal.”

“The European Commission deals a severe blow to the EU’s credibility as a climate leader,” states GroenLinks MEP Bas Eickhout. “At the climate summit in Glasgow, cautious steps were taken towards phasing out fossil fuels. Now the European Commission is turning back the clock. This decision severely damages the EU’s credibility as a global climate leader.”