Germany has dropped its long-standing opposition to nuclear power generation, and French and German officials said Germany has said it will not stand in the way of France’s bid to have nuclear power treated as renewable energy in EU legislation, resolving a major dispute between Germany and France that has held up EU energy policy

Germany Drops Opposition to Nuclear Power in EU Legislation

Germany has officially ended its long-standing opposition to classifying nuclear power on par with renewable energy in European Union (EU) legislation. This policy shift, confirmed by both German and French officials in May 2025, resolves a major dispute between the two largest economies in the EU and is expected to have significant implications for the bloc’s energy and climate policy.

Background and Previous Stance

– For years, Germany and France were at odds over nuclear energy’s role in meeting EU climate targets.
– France, which generates about 70% of its electricity from nuclear power, has consistently advocated for nuclear energy to be recognized as a key low-carbon source, equivalent to renewables, in EU policy frameworks.
– Germany, on the other hand, had phased out its own nuclear power plants and, while acknowledging nuclear as low-carbon, did not consider it renewable. This stance contributed to nuclear energy being excluded from the EU’s list of “sustainable” economic activities, limiting investment and support at the EU level.

The Policy Shift

– The new German government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has signaled to France and the EU that it will no longer block efforts to treat nuclear power on an equal footing with renewables in EU legislation.
– This change was articulated in a joint editorial by Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, where both leaders committed to “realign their energy strategies based on climate neutrality, competitiveness, and sovereignty,” emphasizing technological neutrality and non-discriminatory treatment of all low-carbon energy sources within the EU.
– The move is part of a broader effort to reset Franco-German relations and strengthen cooperation on energy security and climate policy.

Implications for EU Energy Policy

– Germany’s shift removes a major obstacle to the inclusion of nuclear energy in EU climate and energy frameworks, potentially unlocking stalled policymaking and enabling greater investment in nuclear projects across Europe.
– The decision is expected to put pressure on the European Commission to allow increased funding for nuclear initiatives and may lead to nuclear energy being more widely recognized as a sustainable investment within the EU.
– Austria remains the only significant EU member still opposing nuclear energy at the bloc level.

Domestic Impact in Germany

– Despite this change at the EU level, Germany does not plan to reactivate its own nuclear power plants, which were shut down and in some cases partly dismantled following the 2011 Fukushima disaster and the subsequent nuclear phaseout policy.
– Chancellor Merz has criticized the previous phaseout as a mistake but has stated that restarting German nuclear plants is “most likely not feasible” due to the advanced state of decommissioning.

Broader European Context

– Germany’s policy reversal aligns with a broader trend in Europe, where several countries are reconsidering or reversing nuclear phaseouts and planning new reactors to enhance energy security and meet climate targets.
– Belgium has halted its planned nuclear phaseout, and countries like Sweden and several Central European states are moving forward with new nuclear projects.

—

In summary, Germany’s decision to drop its opposition to nuclear power at the EU level marks a significant turning point in European energy policy, paving the way for nuclear energy to be treated as a key low-carbon solution alongside renewables in the EU’s climate strategy. However, this does not signal a return of nuclear power within Germany itself, where domestic plants remain offline.