Agency Report –
Germany and France have largely resolved their long-standing dispute over nuclear energy, as high-level ministers from both countries met in the southern French port of Toulon for joint consultations on Friday.
Under a framework agreement, the two countries will pursue a joint approach at the European level to achieve equal treatment of low-emission energy sources, including nuclear energy.
While the two sides have taken differing strategies on energy policy, with Paris currently expanding its nuclear capacities while Berlin has shut down its nuclear power plants, the two neighbours intend to no longer obstruct each other in energy policy, instead offering mutual support.
Germany will, for example, drop its opposition to France’s use of nuclear energy in the context of European legislation. Paris is seeking EU funding for research projects to develop new, smaller reactors.
The German government, in turn, has secured French support for the development of hydrogen connections to south-western Europe and for stronger integration of electricity grids between the two countries.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz and several of his top ministers are in Toulon for talks with their French counterparts, including President Emmanuel Macron.
The agreement on nuclear energy with France suggests internal disagreement within Merz’s coalition has been overcome, with the centre-left Social Democrats having previously opposed the classification of nuclear power as sustainable.
Merz and Macron first outlined the new joint course in energy policy during the conservative’s inaugural visit to Paris in May.
