Nuclear energy under scrutiny: European Commission launches review

The European Commission has opened a four-week call for evidence as part of an official review of investment needs in the nuclear sector. The Nuclear Illustrative Programme (PINC) is set to be updated for the first time in eight years. The deadline for submitting feedback is 12 May, and the updated document is expected to be published by the end of this year.

The PINC (Programme Indicatif Nucléaire pour la Communauté) maps the current state and future outlook for nuclear energy in the EU. It is not a binding document, but rather a strategic or analytical overview. It is based on Article 40 of the Euratom Treaty, which requires the Commission to prepare such a programme regularly.

The aim of the current call for evidence is to gather evidence and input from stakeholders, including the public, to inform the 2025 update of the PINC. The Commission wants to ensure that the new programme reflects the nuclear sector’s current needs in line with decarbonisation goals, the REPowerEU initiatives and the Clean Industrial Deal.

New construction and lifetime extensions for existing reactors

The updated PINC will cover the entire life cycle of nuclear facilities and provide an overview of investment trends, challenges and opportunities in individual member states. Key topics will include both new construction and lifetime extensions for existing reactors. The programme will also identify needs related to spent fuel management, strengthening the supply chain and developing new technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and nuclear fusion.

The Commission also highlights the importance of enabling factors such as regulatory capacity, public engagement, skills development and international cooperation. The document will also analyse key challenges, including securing the EU’s strategic position in the global nuclear industry, supply chain vulnerabilities and the insufficient commercialisation of new technologies.

Since the last update of the PINC in 2016, EU energy policy has undergone a major transformation. The role of nuclear energy in ensuring secure, affordable and climate-neutral energy supplies remains the subject of lively debate. For this reason, the new PINC is intended to be an important tool for future decisions in this area.