France blocks EU energy deal on nuclear power

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France leads a coalition of countries blocking agreement on EU-wide targets for renewables as it makes a new push for better treatment of its nuclear industry.

The move comes in the midst of broader pushback against the bloc’s climate agenda as the realities of what is needed for the green transition become ever more apparent.

The 27 EU member states were expected to agree on an overall target of 42.5 percent renewable energy in the bloc’s energy mix by 2030 Wednesday.

But France, which relies on nuclear power for most of its electricityhe signaled he would not support the text, citing concerns that “low-carbon” hydrogen generated with electricity from nuclear power plants would not count as part of the targets.

“It must be possible for nuclear-derived electricity to coexist with renewable electricity without discrimination,” said a French diplomat.

The vote, which was taken off the agenda of a meeting of ambassadors on Tuesday evening at 11.30pm, would have paved the way for the targets to become EU law following their approval in the European Parliament.

Paris’ belated decision not to support the goals follows a similar effort by Germany secure exemptions for its automotive industry by a 2035 ban on combustion engines that forms another central part of EU climate law.

This issue was resolved after several weeks of negotiations with the commission, which ultimately resulted in a ban on engines running on zero-emission ‘e-fuels’.

Other member states said the fact that the bloc’s two largest countries push for last-minute changes to green legislation sets a dangerous precedent for EU decision-making and could affect its path towards achieving the overall goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

“The biggest problem is that Germany does this first and then France pull the same [move]. They should be at the forefront of these issues,” said an EU diplomat.

Another said attempts by both countries to renegotiate policies could have a negative effect on overall emissions targets.

The EU commission said it remained committed to a “rapid introduction” of renewable energy as a critical element of the bloc’s goal of achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and reducing its dependence on Russian fuels. “The new rules must be adopted and implemented as quickly as possible.”

French officials have in the past rejected criticisms that they are promoting the interests of its nuclear industry by arguing that EU rules allow countries to choose their own energy sources. Its fleet of nuclear power plants already gives it lower greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP than many of its neighbors, though it has missed EU targets for building renewable energy.

Six pro-nuclear countries, including the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Hungary, followed Paris’ lead on Wednesday and withheld support for the directive. Meanwhile, anti-nuclear governments, including in Germany and Austria, have staunchly opposed the recognition of nuclear power as a clean fuel.

Earlier this week, Paris convened a meeting of ministers from 14 countries with nuclear energy capabilities together with EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson.

In a statement following the meeting, the ministers said they wanted to strengthen “European cooperation in the field of nuclear energy as an important component of Europe’s energy and climate ambition”.

Simson said Brussels “remains neutral with respect to member states’ energy mix choices.”

No date has been set for a new vote on the renewable energy proposal as talks are “ongoing,” according to an official involved in the discussions.

Rules to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuels were also pulled from Wednesday’s agenda. Airlines for Europe said “the current impasse between France and Germany on the role of nuclear energy” is jeopardizing sustainable fuel legislation.

“Stable policies are the foundation of the consensus building necessary for the rapid decarbonisation of the European economy”.

Additional reporting by Leila Abboud in Paris