The EU backtracks on nuclear energy

For years in Europe, a simple story was told: phasing out nuclear power was the safest, greenest, and most modern choice. Today, however, even at the highest levels of European institutions it is being acknowledged that this decision may have been a strategic mistake.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has said this in very clear terms. Reducing the role of nuclear power in Europe’s energy mix was a choice that made the continent more vulnerable. After all, Europe is not a major producer of oil or gas: giving up a stable, low-emission energy source inevitably meant increasing dependence on foreign suppliers.

The numbers clearly illustrate this change. In 1990, about a third of Europe’s electricity came from nuclear power; today that share has fallen to around 15%.

Meanwhile, geopolitical crises and spikes in energy prices have reminded everyone how fragile an energy system based on imported fossil fuels can be. International tensions and market volatility have brought a key question to the forefront: can Europe really afford to give up a stable source of energy?

Contrary to what is often claimed in public debate, nuclear power has several characteristics that are difficult to replace. It produces large amounts of electricity with very low CO₂ emissions, ensures continuous generation regardless of wind or sunlight, and reduces dependence on foreign energy supplies.

For this reason, the wind is changing. Brussels is now looking with growing interest at new nuclear technologies, particularly so-called small modular reactors (SMRs). The European Union has already announced financial support, about €200 million, to accelerate their development, with the goal of making them operational in the early years of the next decade.

This is not nostalgia for the past, but a pragmatic recognition. The energy transition certainly requires more renewable energy, but it will be difficult to succeed without a stable source that guarantees the security of the electricity grid. In many countries around the world, from the United States to China, nuclear power is in fact returning to the center of energy strategies.

The point is not to choose between renewables and nuclear. The point is to understand that, in order to address the climate crisis while also guaranteeing energy security, Europe cannot afford to rule out any useful technology from the start.

The real lesson of recent years is simple: energy is not only an environmental issue. It is also a matter of security, autonomy, and economic stability. And for this very reason, nuclear power, once considered obsolete by many, is returning to the center of the European debate.

Klevis Gjoka