The European Commission is attempting to prevent an impending conflict between EU countries with a diluted proposal on investments in new natural gas and nuclear power plants. The EU Commissioners leaked a taxonomy proposal in which investments in nuclear energy and natural gas are in some cases labeled as 'environmentally friendly'.
The proposal has been sent to the EU countries but has not yet been made officially public nor sent to the factions in the European Parliament. According to the new EU taxonomy rules, investments in nuclear facilities would only receive a green label if the latest technologies are used. Additionally, there must be sufficient funding and a concrete plan for the storage and treatment of nuclear waste.
New gas-fired power plants would only be allowed if they emit much less CO2. Moreover, the currently proposed 'exceptions' would only apply for the next 20 years.
The proposal is highly controversial and already led to intense discussions between European heads of state and government leaders last month. France and about ten other countries support nuclear energy as it can be a tool in the transition to the climate neutrality the EU has committed to by 2050. However, countries including Austria and Germany are categorically opposed due to the dangers of nuclear waste.
The main objection from environmental groups and many EU countries is that new gas and nuclear power plants financed with Brussels' support would hinder the development of truly clean energy sources such as solar and wind. They fear that investors will keep putting their money into less environmentally friendly energy, leaving less funding available for investments in innovation.
Dutch Member of the European Parliament Bas Eickhout (GreenLeft) described it as 'greenwashing' and recently said 'then we may as well forget the Paris Agreement.' Climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans earlier said about subsidies for new nuclear plants that 'as far as he is concerned, it is not necessary,' although Commission President Ursula von der Leyen did advocate for it.
Insiders say the chance that opponents in the European Council will gather a qualified majority to change the Commission’s position is small. That would require 15 member states representing 65 percent of the European population. The chance of a rejecting majority in the European Parliament is somewhat higher.
The compromise to allow new investments in gas and nuclear plants under stricter conditions is seen as a victory for French President Macron. He has been advocating this for years and will also chair the EU in the coming six months.
Just this past weekend, three nuclear power plants were shut down in Germany. The country will then have three left, which will close within a year. Germany is completely phasing out nuclear energy to generate electricity. This decision was taken back in 2011. The immediate trigger was the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan.
Currently, the nuclear power plant in Borssele, Zeeland, is the only facility supplying electricity in the Netherlands. This 485-megawatt nuclear plant provides about 3 percent of the electricity needed in the country. It is an old plant, dating from 1973. The Dodewaard nuclear plant was the first Dutch nuclear power plant, operational from 1969. Electricity production stopped in 1997.