Traffic light is now under pressure from the EU: Commissioner calls for nuclear power plant extension - "in the interest of Europe"

Created: 04/07/2022, 17:15

By: Linus Prien

EU Commissioner Thierry Breton © IMAGO/Dwi Anoraganingrum

Pressure is being exerted on the traffic light from the EU and the opposition.

Politicians are calling for the lifetime of active nuclear power plants to be extended in order to prevent further dependence.

Brussels/Berlin - According to EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, Germany should leave its nuclear power plants connected to the grid longer.

"It is extremely important to let the three German nuclear power plants that are still in operation run longer," he told

.

"At least for a few months and of course in a safe way." The extension of the lifetime of the nuclear reactors, which are to be shut down at the end of the year, is in the interest of all of Europe, argued Breton.

"Vladimir Putin is using our dependence as a weapon against us." Four months after the start of the escalating war in Ukraine, Russia has significantly reduced its gas supplies to Europe, which is endangering the energy supply in large parts of Europe.

Ukraine and the consequences: EU Commissioner reprimands German nuclear policy

With a view to the federal government, which is still sticking to the nuclear phase-out, the French commissioner said: "We can't say: I'm not doing what I could do, but expect that others will deliver what I need." The switch to renewable energies must although be accelerated.

But the EU should ensure that its supply of the necessary minerals, such as rare earths, is secured, according to Breton.

"We must prevent our dependency on Russia on gas from becoming dependent on China for solar energy." The EU must therefore promote the mining and processing of raw materials in Europe.

Similar to the government in Paris, the French EU Commissioner sees great potential in nuclear power.

Again and again he speaks out in favor of their use and thus has a significantly different opinion on the subject than Germany, for example.

In February, French President Emmanuel Macron even announced a renaissance in nuclear power with the construction of six new and possibly eight more power plants.

Markus Söder (CSU) should be happy to hear the tones from Brussels: In an interview with the

newspaper, the Bavarian Prime Minister recently reprimanded that it was “unreasonable to switch off nuclear energy for ideological reasons and thus take the electricity out of ten million households”.

Söder also warned of an "icy cold winter" on Monday.

Energy supply: CDU politician criticizes the energy policy of the Greens

The Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn has also explicitly criticized the course of the Greens in energy policy.

With a view to the gas crisis, the CDU politician said on Monday that the Greens and parts of the climate protection movement would prefer to keep coal instead of nuclear power plants running.

The Greens are more of an anti-nuclear party than a climate party.

"You have to face this debate."

Spahn also advocated longer operating times for the three remaining nuclear power plants in Germany, which are scheduled to go offline at the end of the year.

This would strengthen security of supply.

Spahn announced that the Union would submit a corresponding application to the Bundestag for a vote this week.