Luxembourg’s environment minister announces a swift joint approach with Austria if the EU Commission classifies investments in new nuclear reactors as sustainable.
The Luxembourg government has announced legal action against the EU Commission’s plans to classify nuclear and gas-fired power plants as climate-friendly. “We will join a lawsuit,” said Environment Minister Carole Dieschbourg to the digital media company Table.Media. Austria had previously threatened to take legal action.
Dieschbourg said both governments had agreed to react immediately once the EU Commission passed the legal act.
The plans of the EU Commission stipulate that investments in new nuclear power plants can be classified as sustainable if, among other things, the plants comply with the latest technology standards and a specific plan for a disposal plant for high-level radioactive waste is submitted by 2050 at the latest. Investments in new gas-fired power plants should also be able to be classified as sustainable, especially at Germany’s request.
The Green politician Dieschbourg called it “tragic” that the EU Commission wanted to classify nuclear energy and natural gas as sustainable. Funds would be blocked that are urgently needed to combat climate change and to expand renewable energies.
France regards plans as “final”
According to information from “Spiegel”, the French government is still against any changes to the so-called taxonomy of the EU, which should declare natural gas and nuclear power to be sustainable energies. You consider the draft that the EU Commission presented on New Year’s Eve as “final”, wrote the German magazine, according to advance information on Friday, citing French government circles.
France meets most of its energy needs from nuclear energy. The country holds the EU presidency in the first half of the year and plays an important role in the so-called taxonomy of the EU for sustainable investments. The EU states can apply to the Commission for changes to the draft until January 12th. However, the chances of success are slim.
According to “Spiegel”, the EU Commission is expected to decide on the final version on January 18th. The planned entry into force of the new rules on January 1, 2023 could only be prevented if 20 of the 27 EU states with at least 65 percent of the total EU population or an absolute majority in the European Parliament vote against it. Both are considered to be almost impossible.
(APA/dpa)