The Commission recognized the role of nuclear energy in achieving climate neutrality goals

France is finally satisfied with the EU deal on the Renewable Energy Directive. Last Friday, the EU-27 reached a compromise that addresses the interests of the nuclear energy sector.

EU countries reached a final agreement on a 42.5% share of renewable energy in final energy consumption by 2030 through a revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) on Friday. The news site Euractiv reported on the final position of historically pro-nuclear France, which had remained dissatisfied until the last moment. Backed by other pro-nuclear member states, France blocked the European Parliament's approval of the agreement in mid-May and demanded guarantees concerning the production of low-carbon hydrogen from nuclear electricity.

According to French Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher, EU-wide targets for renewable hydrogen production risked conflicting with France's interests in nuclear energy. In the end, however, she said the agreement sufficiently recognizes the role of nuclear energy in achieving decarbonization goals.

At Friday's meeting of EU ambassadors, the European Commission had to adjust its original position to reach an agreement with all 27 member states. During the meeting, it circulated a statement that said: