{"id":1817669,"date":"2026-03-10T11:28:47","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T08:28:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1817669"},"modified":"2026-03-10T11:28:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T08:28:47","slug":"the-hidden-cost-of-nuclear-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1817669","title":{"rendered":"The hidden cost of nuclear power"},"content":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76289320_6.jpg”]<\/p>\n

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https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5A6KA<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
Ursula von der Leyen made the comments at a nuclear summit in FranceImage: Abdul Saboor\/AP Photo\/Reuters\/dpa\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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European Commission President\u00a0Ursula von der Leyen<\/a> said on Tuesday that Europe’s turn away from nuclear power<\/a> had been a “strategic mistake” that was now exposed by the Iran war.<\/p>\n

“This reduction \u200cin the share of nuclear was a choice, I believe that it was a strategic mistake for Europe to turn its back on a reliable, affordable source of low-emissions power,” von der Leyen said at the opening of a nuclear energy<\/a> summit near Paris.<\/p>\n

“For fossil fuels, we are completely dependent on expensive and volatile imports. They are putting us at a structural disadvantage to other regions,” she added.<\/p>\n

It comes as the US-Israeli war against Iran<\/a> has damaged major oil refineries and led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz<\/a> \u2014 a shipping route that is a major chokepoint for the world’s oil supply.<\/p>\n

Von der Leyen called the war “a stark reminder” of the vulnerabilities that come with being dependent on fossil fuel imports.<\/p>\n

Von der Leyen, Macron call for energy independence<\/h2>\n

At the summit, von der Leyen announced a\u00a0\u20ac200 ($230 million) fund for European nuclear innovation.<\/p>\n

She\u00a0said that “while in 1990, one-third of Europe’s electricity came from nuclear, today it’s only close to 15%”.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Germany was one country that aggressively wound down its nuclear generation<\/a> in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster<\/a>. Its neighbor, France, continued to embrace the technology<\/a> which now accounts for more than two thirds of its electricity production.<\/p>\n

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What measures did EU leaders propose?<\/h2>\n

Von der Leyen announced a goal of rolling out small modular reactors (SMRs) across the EU by 2030 and harmonizing regulations between member states.<\/p>\n

Unlike traditional reactors which produce around 1,0000 megawatts (MW), SMRs produce around 300 MW but are more affordable and quicker to build\u00a0because they can be mass produced in factories.<\/p>\n

“The logic is very clear. When it is safe to deploy, it has to be simple to deploy all across Europe,” von der Leyen said.<\/p>\n

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Small nuclear reactors<\/h2>\n

Macron proposed standardizing reactor designs across Europe\u00a0\u2014 a move that could benefit France’s state-owned nuclear giant EDF which has lost out on contracts in recent years.<\/p>\n

In 2024, the Czech Republic awarded a tender to build a new power plant to\u00a0South Korea’s KHNP<\/a>, which France’s EDF tried and failed to block in court.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his country plans to “lead the conversation” on using nuclear power to decarbonize\u00a0shipping<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Anti-nuclear protesters storm stage<\/h2>\n

Two Greenpeace<\/a> activists stormed the stage at the start of the summit, interrupting\u00a0Macron and International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi<\/a> as they were greeting heads of state.<\/p>\n

The protesters held banners that read\u00a0“Nuclear Power = Energy Insecurity” and “Nuclear power fuels Russia\u2019s war.”<\/p>\n

One of them asked Macron, “Why are we still buying uranium from Russia?” \u200bto which the president made the claim: “We produce nuclear power ourselves.”<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, around a dozen Greenpeace activists also blocked vehicles as they arrived at the summit.<\/p>\n

\"Greenpeace
Greenpeace activists blocked vehicles arriving at the summit in FranceImage: Dimitar Dilkoff\/AFP<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Edited by: Rob Turner<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

\n

European Commission President\u00a0Ursula von der Leyen<\/a> said on Tuesday that Europe’s turn away from nuclear power<\/a> had been a “strategic mistake” that was now exposed by the Iran war.<\/p>\n

“This reduction \u200cin the share of nuclear was a choice, I believe that it was a strategic mistake for Europe to turn its back on a reliable, affordable source of low-emissions power,” von der Leyen said at the opening of a nuclear energy<\/a> summit near Paris.<\/p>\n

“For fossil fuels, we are completely dependent on expensive and volatile imports. They are putting us at a structural disadvantage to other regions,” she added.<\/p>\n

It comes as the US-Israeli war against Iran<\/a> has damaged major oil refineries and led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz<\/a> \u2014 a shipping route that is a major chokepoint for the world’s oil supply.<\/p>\n

Von der Leyen called the war “a stark reminder” of the vulnerabilities that come with being dependent on fossil fuel imports.<\/p>\n

Von der Leyen, Macron call for energy independence<\/h2>\n

At the summit, von der Leyen announced a\u00a0\u20ac200 ($230 million) fund for European nuclear innovation.<\/p>\n

She\u00a0said that “while in 1990, one-third of Europe’s electricity came from nuclear, today it’s only close to 15%”.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Germany was one country that aggressively wound down its nuclear generation<\/a> in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster<\/a>. Its neighbor, France, continued to embrace the technology<\/a> which now accounts for more than two thirds of its electricity production.<\/p>\n

\n

What measures did EU leaders propose?<\/h2>\n

Von der Leyen announced a goal of rolling out small modular reactors (SMRs) across the EU by 2030 and harmonizing regulations between member states.<\/p>\n

Unlike traditional reactors which produce around 1,0000 megawatts (MW), SMRs produce around 300 MW but are more affordable and quicker to build\u00a0because they can be mass produced in factories.<\/p>\n

“The logic is very clear. When it is safe to deploy, it has to be simple to deploy all across Europe,” von der Leyen said.<\/p>\n

\n

Small nuclear reactors<\/h2>\n

Macron proposed standardizing reactor designs across Europe\u00a0\u2014 a move that could benefit France’s state-owned nuclear giant EDF which has lost out on contracts in recent years.<\/p>\n

In 2024, the Czech Republic awarded a tender to build a new power plant to\u00a0South Korea’s KHNP<\/a>, which France’s EDF tried and failed to block in court.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his country plans to “lead the conversation” on using nuclear power to decarbonize\u00a0shipping<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Anti-nuclear protesters storm stage<\/h2>\n

Two Greenpeace<\/a> activists stormed the stage at the start of the summit, interrupting\u00a0Macron and International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi<\/a> as they were greeting heads of state.<\/p>\n

The protesters held banners that read\u00a0“Nuclear Power = Energy Insecurity” and “Nuclear power fuels Russia\u2019s war.”<\/p>\n

One of them asked Macron, “Why are we still buying uranium from Russia?” \u200bto which the president made the claim: “We produce nuclear power ourselves.”<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, around a dozen Greenpeace activists also blocked vehicles as they arrived at the summit.<\/p>\n

\"Greenpeace
Greenpeace activists blocked vehicles arriving at the summit in FranceImage: Dimitar Dilkoff\/AFP<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Edited by: Rob Turner<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

European Commission President\u00a0Ursula von der Leyen<\/a> said on Tuesday that Europe’s turn away from nuclear power<\/a> had been a “strategic mistake” that was now exposed by the Iran war.<\/p>\n

“This reduction \u200cin the share of nuclear was a choice, I believe that it was a strategic mistake for Europe to turn its back on a reliable, affordable source of low-emissions power,” von der Leyen said at the opening of a nuclear energy<\/a> summit near Paris.<\/p>\n

“For fossil fuels, we are completely dependent on expensive and volatile imports. They are putting us at a structural disadvantage to other regions,” she added.<\/p>\n

It comes as the US-Israeli war against Iran<\/a> has damaged major oil refineries and led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz<\/a> \u2014 a shipping route that is a major chokepoint for the world’s oil supply.<\/p>\n

Von der Leyen called the war “a stark reminder” of the vulnerabilities that come with being dependent on fossil fuel imports.<\/p>\n

At the summit, von der Leyen announced a\u00a0\u20ac200 ($230 million) fund for European nuclear innovation.<\/p>\n

She\u00a0said that “while in 1990, one-third of Europe’s electricity came from nuclear, today it’s only close to 15%”.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Germany was one country that aggressively wound down its nuclear generation<\/a> in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster<\/a>. Its neighbor, France, continued to embrace the technology<\/a> which now accounts for more than two thirds of its electricity production.<\/p>\n

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n

“Nuclear power is key to reconciling both independence\u00a0\u2014\u00a0and thus energy sovereignty\u00a0\u2014\u00a0with decarbonization, and thus carbon neutrality,” French President Emmanuel Macron<\/a> said at the summit.<\/p>\n

“We can see it in our current geopolitical context: when we are too dependent on hydrocarbons, they can become a tool of pressure, or even of destabilization.”<\/p>\n

France has in recent years sourced much of its unenriched uranium from Kazakhstan,\u00a0Australia<\/a>, Namibia and\u00a0politically volatile Niger<\/a> .<\/p>\n

According to EU nuclear agency Euratom, Canada provided 34% of the bloc’s uranium in 2024, the most recent year on record, followed by Kazakhstan with 24% and Russia with around 15%.<\/p>\n

Von der Leyen announced a goal of rolling out small modular reactors (SMRs) across the EU by 2030 and harmonizing regulations between member states.<\/p>\n

Unlike traditional reactors which produce around 1,0000 megawatts (MW), SMRs produce around 300 MW but are more affordable and quicker to build\u00a0because they can be mass produced in factories.<\/p>\n

“The logic is very clear. When it is safe to deploy, it has to be simple to deploy all across Europe,” von der Leyen said.<\/p>\n

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n

Macron proposed standardizing reactor designs across Europe\u00a0\u2014 a move that could benefit France’s state-owned nuclear giant EDF which has lost out on contracts in recent years.<\/p>\n

In 2024, the Czech Republic awarded a tender to build a new power plant to\u00a0South Korea’s KHNP<\/a>, which France’s EDF tried and failed to block in court.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his country plans to “lead the conversation” on using nuclear power to decarbonize\u00a0shipping<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Two Greenpeace<\/a> activists stormed the stage at the start of the summit, interrupting\u00a0Macron and International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi<\/a> as they were greeting heads of state.<\/p>\n

The protesters held banners that read\u00a0“Nuclear Power = Energy Insecurity” and “Nuclear power fuels Russia\u2019s war.”<\/p>\n

One of them asked Macron, “Why are we still buying uranium from Russia?” \u200bto which the president made the claim: “We produce nuclear power ourselves.”<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, around a dozen Greenpeace activists also blocked vehicles as they arrived at the summit.<\/p>\n

Edited by: Rob Turner<\/em><\/p>\n

[analyse_source url=”https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/europe-eu-nuclear-power-strategic-mistake\/a-76289274″]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76289320_6.jpg”] https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5A6KA Ursula von der Leyen made the comments at a nuclear summit in FranceImage: Abdul Saboor\/AP Photo\/Reuters\/dpa\/picture alliance European Commission President\u00a0Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that Europe’s turn away from nuclear power had been a “strategic mistake” that was now exposed by the Iran war. “This reduction \u200cin the share […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,74],"class_list":["post-1817669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dw-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1817669","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1817669"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1817669\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1817669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1817669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1817669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}