EU launches support for projects of common European interest; nuclear project is first candidate

The European Commission recently announced the launch of the Design Support Hub for proposals for Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs). Through the Hub, it will work closely with EU countries to shape and design IPCEI candidates following their endorsement. The Hub will enable EU countries to directly designate candidates in line with IPCEI rules, speeding up the whole process. Its launch follows the Clean Industrial Deal, which was published on 26 February 2025.

The launch was announced at a meeting of the Joint European Forum for Important Projects of Common European Interest (JEF-IPCEI), attended by Executive Vice-Presidents Teresa Ribera and Stéphane Séjourné and senior representatives of EU countries.

The discussion focused on three specific areas. The first was ways to improve and speed up the IPCEI approval process. The second focused on how IPCEIs could be used to achieve the goals set out in the Clean Industrial Deal. Finally, forum members discussed ways to facilitate EU co-financing of IPCEI projects.

The forum also approved the launch of the design phase for a new potential IPCEI candidate in innovative nuclear technologies. The project was developed by France with support from Italy and Romania and covers various technologies across the nuclear energy value chain: small modular reactors, advanced reactors, uranium management, supply, nuclear fusion research and the use of nuclear power for medical purposes. These countries have previously explored ways to finance nuclear projects using IPCEIs.

The main objectives of the Joint European Forum for IPCEIs (JEF-IPCEI) are to identify areas of strategic interest to the EU for potential future IPCEIs and to improve the efficiency of their design, assessment and implementation.