A minor disagreement over the planning of an EU event in Brussels has revealed the contrasting views of German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche, from the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, from the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), regarding renewable energy, climate protection, and nuclear power. The incident occurred in June when Reiche chose to attend a meeting with nations supportive of nuclear energy instead of a meeting focused on expanding renewable energies.
Although Germany, under Angela Merkel’s administration, decided to phase out nuclear energy following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, with the country’s last nuclear power plant discontinuing operations in spring 2023, Reiche’s decision to meet with pro-nuclear states sparked disagreement. Schneider, responsible for nuclear safety as environment minister, highlighted that Germany has decided to phase out nuclear power, a policy widely accepted by the public. Currently, Germany is shifting its focus to renewable energies like wind and solar power, and Schneider affirmed that there is no intention to revisit commitments to the nuclear industry.
This undercurrent of disagreement between the Economy Ministry and the Environment Ministry regarding nuclear energy has been clear. In May, Reiche stated in Brussels that she is “open to all technologies” for energy production, following a joint paper by the Paris and Berlin governments advocating for an EU policy promoting all low-emission energy sources. This position supports nuclear power plants in France, which emit minimal greenhouse gases and are considered climate-friendly by their advocates, despite long-term safety and waste management challenges. Under EU treaties, each member state retains the right to define its energy mix.
Karl-Heinz Florenz KTH
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/german-government-shows-cracks-over-nuclear-energy/a-73067507?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
