European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared Europe's decades-long shift away from nuclear energy a strategic miscalculation during the Nuclear Energy Summit near Paris this week, as regional tensions following the second week of US-Israeli military operations against Iran underscore energy security concerns.
"For fossil fuels, we are completely dependent on expensive and volatile imports," von der Leyen stated, noting nuclear power's share in Europe's electricity mix has fallen from 33% in 1990 to 15% today. "The current Middle East crisis gives a stark reminder of the vulnerability this creates."
The EU chief announced a €200 million guarantee fund to support innovative nuclear technologies, positioning atomic energy alongside renewables as "joint guarantors" of energy independence and climate goals. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed this stance, emphasizing nuclear power's role in achieving "energy sovereignty" while decarbonizing economies.
Leaders at the summit highlighted how recent geopolitical tensions have exposed risks of hydrocarbon dependence, with Macron warning fossil fuels can become "tools of pressure" in global diplomacy. The discussions come as energy prices remain volatile amid ongoing Middle Eastern hostilities.
