Belgium and France double down on nuclear power alliance
The two countries will cooperate on reactor lifetime extensions, new projects including small modular reactors, research and development, strategic supply chains, and worker training, according to a declaration of intent signed in Paris on Wednesday by Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet and his French counterpart Marc Ferracci. Stronger together The partnership with France 'is based on a shared ambition to make nuclear power a strategic lever for a more sustainable, competitive and resilient Europe', the Belgian energy ministry said in a press release.
Ferracci said on X that the recent Belgian U-turn on nuclear power 'makes it possible to envisage concrete partnerships on the extension of existing reactors, the deployment of new power reactors, and the joint development of small modular reactors'.
'This declaration demonstrates our shared desire to develop our nuclear industries and to embark on ambitious energy programmes to secure our future,' he said.
'Together, we are defending a European energy strategy based on technological neutrality, energy sovereignty and decarbonisation,' Ferracci added, applauding Belgium for its recent decision to join a French-led alliance of pro-nuclear states. Nuclear alliance The alliance was set up by France in 2023 to promote pro-nuclear countries' interests at the EU level. It has grown stronger this year, with Belgium and Italy joining the group.
With 14 members, the alliance now represents just over half of EU countries but still falls short of the requirement to represent 65% of the EU population needed to reach a qualified majority in the Council of the EU. This will not change even if prospective members Estonia and Lithuania decide to join.
Estonia recently participated as an observer at a meeting of the group, while Lithuania began assessing on 2 July whether to restart nuclear power production – with a formal decision expected in 2028.
The Lithuanian government recently told Euractiv that the Baltic state is 'actively considering the possibility' of participating in the alliance, although 'no formal decisions have been taken at this stage'. Nuclear-friendlier? The question of EU financial support for nuclear power has long been controversial, with countries like Austria and, at least until recently, Germany firmly opposed to the technology.
The new German government appears divided on the issue, with the more nuclear-friendly Chancellor Friedrich Merz facing resistance from his junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats.
His conservative energy minister recently ruled out a return to nuclear despite she had made supportive comments on small modular reactors.
In Brussels, however, the European Commission appears increasingly receptive to pro-nuclear voices. As recently as June, it allowed nuclear technology manufacturing to benefit from streamlined support under a new state aid rulebook, drafted to support the EU's new Clean Industrial Deal growth strategy.
(rh, aw)
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