EU's von der Leyen Labels Nuclear Decline a Strategic Mistake

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged on Tuesday that Europe's long-term reduction in nuclear energy had been a strategic mistake, as leaders gathered in Paris to discuss reviving the sector amid soaring energy prices and geopolitical tensions. Speaking at a nuclear energy summit, von der Leyen called for a renewed focus on atomic power to bolster energy security and support the bloc's climate neutrality goals by 2050.

The event highlighted a shifting stance across the European Union, where nuclear power's share of electricity production has declined from about one-third in 1990 to roughly 15 percent today. Von der Leyen attributed the drop to deliberate policy choices and warned that without reversal, the trend could worsen. "This reduction in the share of nuclear was a choice. I believe that it was a strategic mistake for Europe to turn its back on a reliable, affordable source of low-emissions power. This should change," she said. She emphasized that affordable energy is vital for citizens' cost of living and industrial competitiveness, noting Europe's heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels, which exposes the bloc to volatile global markets.