The Ministers of the Environment of the European Union met in Amiens in the north of France for “informal” discussions around climate themes, the carbon tax at the borders or the fight against imported deforestation. The nuclear issue in particular was not unanimous among the ministers.
The meeting began on a disagreement between Germany and France. The German State Secretary for the Environment castigated in front of his French counterpart the inclusion of nuclear power in the European green taxonomy project. A burning environmental file.
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With her ” taxonomy green, Brussels wants to draw up a list of investments considered climate-friendly. Some facilities that meet the criteria for this green label will therefore be financed more easily. But the text sent on New Year’s Eve by the European Commission raises eyebrows, because it includes certain investments in gas or nuclear power plants.
Nuclear: neither a “green energy”, nor “economic”
On the eve of the deadline given to member states to request changes, the German State Secretary for the Environment therefore bluntly recalled Berlin’s opposition to the inclusion of nuclear power: “ It is not green or sustainable energy. » « It’s not economical either. “Said Stefan Tidow in front of his French counterpart. However, Paris is campaigning on the contrary for the atom to benefit from the label ” green “.
Berlin will try to convince, but will wait for the Commission’s final proposal before taking a position on the rest of the process. Austria, followed by Luxembourg, has already been more offensive. Vienna is not angry with the presence of nuclear and gas in the first version. It threatens to file a complaint with the Court of Justice of the European Union if the atom remains in the list of green investments.
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