“Ursula von der Leyen’s stance on nuclear power marks an almost complete reversal" (C. Béguinet)

"Ursula von der Leyen's statement on 10/03/2025 in Paris was a real kick in the teeth, and represents a near-total U-turn by the Commission President on a rather anti-nuclear position held by the Union for almost 30 years, as she herself points out", Christophe Béguinet, member of the EESC (European Economic and Social Committee), energy adviser to the French trade union CFDT and also an employee director at EDF's board, told News Tank on 20/03/2026.

"From now on, we will have to see how this "technological neutrality" will be followed up: the case of Poland, for example, and the European financing of the power plant it wants to build will be interesting to follow.Europe cannot do without renewable energies and nuclear power for economic reasons and to ensure the security of the electricity system".

With regard to the announcements made the same day in Strasbourg (consumer-actor; citizen energy communities; network financing), "it's a logic of piling on specific regulations", continues Ch. Béguinet.

"It is vital to develop uses and electrify uses, particularly industrial uses, to…