Emmanuel Macron defends nuclear power as a “factor of independence” at the opening of a summit in Paris

An “independence factor”. Emmanuel Macron defended this Tuesday at the opening of a summit in Paris the relaunch of civil nuclear power, particularly in a geopolitical context where dependence on hydrocarbons can “become an instrument of pressure, even of destabilization”.

“Nuclear power is key to reconciling both independence and therefore energy sovereignty, decarbonization and therefore carbon neutrality by 2050, and competitiveness and therefore job creation in our economies,” the French president affirmed in front of around forty state representatives, gathered at this second summit to achieve the revival of this energy sector.

Emmanuel Macron also called on “each public and private actor to take their part to continue to mobilize investments” in favor of the development of civil nuclear power, “a real sector of the future for our energies, our societies, our countries”.

“I also call on the banks and investment funds who must make an effort”, particularly in “risk capital for the riskiest projects”, he added, taking the United Kingdom as an example and believing that Europeans had to “go a step further” in this area.

“Strategic error”

Following this opening speech, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, estimated that reducing the share of nuclear power in Europe was a “strategic error”, while the place of the atom continues to divide within the 27.

“This choice” by Europe had the consequence of “diverting” Europe from “a reliable and affordable source of low-emission energy”, she declared, reaffirming the Commission’s support for civil atoms and announcing the creation of a guarantee of 200 million euros to support investment in innovative nuclear power.