French nuclear energy splits Germany's ruling coalition
The issue is expected to be a key topic at the meeting between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, scheduled for July 23 in Berlin. The meeting is intended to lay the groundwork for the Franco-German Council of Ministers, planned for late August.
France has long advocated that nuclear energy should not be penalized in Brussels, as atomic power accounts for nearly 70% of its primary energy production. After years of fierce debate between Berlin and Paris, France hoped for a policy shift with the return of conservatives to power in Germany, especially since Merz presented himself as a staunch supporter of nuclear energy. The CDU-CSU campaign platform stated they wanted to "keep the nuclear energy option open" by investing in fourth- and fifth-generation reactors, small modular reactors (SMRs) and fusion technology. The platform even highlighted its intention to "consider reactivating the last nuclear plants that had been closed."
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