Paris & Berlin Back Nuclear in EU Financing Roadmap

France and Germany took a significant step in Europe’s energy transition by adopting a joint energy roadmap that confirmed nuclear energy’s eligibility for EU financing. The move, agreed at the Franco-German Council of Ministers in Toulon, marked a shift in Germany’s stance as it endorsed the principle of “non-discrimination” between nuclear and renewables. The agreement positioned nuclear energy on equal footing with renewable sources in European financing mechanisms, signaling momentum toward a more technology-neutral framework. This development was particularly notable given Germany’s earlier nuclear phase-out policy, underscoring a pragmatic shift in its approach to EU-level energy strategy. While the agreement did not alter national strategies, it created a common stance in Brussels that could play a decisive role in shaping upcoming EU electricity market reform talks. Germany’s support for neutrality was viewed as a strategic political gesture, even without pursuing new nuclear projects. Beyond energy, Paris and Berlin also validated joint commitments on trade, industry, digital sovereignty, and defense, though sensitive issues such as the EU-Mercosur agreement and future combat air system were left aside.