Nuclear power against combustion engines - The Franco-German showdown

The agenda looks harmless. It comprises only five points, all of which are described very briefly. "Ukraine" and "internal market" are there, for example. In fact, there should be a lot of arguments when the 27 heads of state and government of the European Union meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday for their next summit. Not about Ukraine or the single market. But two completely different topics.

At the center of it all: Germany and France. The two states are currently pursuing plans that the other rejects. Berlin fights for the internal combustion engine, Paris for nuclear power. And there could be a showdown at the summit. For an exchange of blows between the most powerful nations of the EU. The two countries, otherwise often referred to as the engine of European integration in a long-worn metaphor, are heading for a conflict.

"It should be emotional," an official of the EU Commission told WELT. She could be right. For the Germans, it is about an industry that provides hundreds of thousands of jobs and a lot of emotions. For the French, it is an energy source that covers almost 70 percent of their electricity needs. The Commission official expects that the two states and their allies will also discuss the topic heatedly on the sidelines of the summit - beyond the short agenda. The car and nuclear power could overshadow whatever the "bosses" actually want to discuss.

It is said to be about supplying Ukraine with ammunition. Earlier this week, EU foreign and defense ministers agreed to supply the country with one million artillery shells from their armies' stocks. In addition, for the first time in its history, the EU is planning to jointly procure new ammunition. One topic at the summit will probably be how much money is needed for this and where to get it from.

Industrial policy should also be discussed. The focus should once again be on how Europe can prevent companies that produce climate-friendly technologies from relocating. For example in the USA or China, where high subsidies are tempting. But the summit will probably be dominated by the discussion about the internal combustion engine and nuclear energy.

On Tuesday, less than 48 hours before the start of negotiations, the EU Commission tried to defuse the car issue. The EU states had actually already agreed last year that they would only allow emission-free new cars from 2035. But at the beginning of March, Germany – specifically: Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing from the FDP – announced additional demands. Wissing wants combustion engines that run on e-fuels to be permitted after 2035.

The commission approached Germany on Tuesday. She suggested that cars with internal combustion engines should still be allowed if technically they can only run on synthetic fuels. This is what it says in a confidential draft from the Brussels authorities, which WELT has received. The document goes on to say that the cars must be able to recognize when they have filled up with petrol or diesel and then switch off automatically.

Even if Germany accepts the proposal at the last minute, the issue is likely to occupy the summit. Italy, Bulgaria and Poland are on the side of the federal government. They also reject the combustion ban. But many EU members do not want to renegotiate the dossier. France in particular is insisting on compliance with the original deal.

Anyone who speaks to Commission officials, members of parliament and diplomats from other European countries always hears the same thing: the late, surprising blockade by the federal government is damaging Germany and ruining Berlin's reputation as a reliable negotiating partner in the EU. And it will make it more difficult for Chancellor Olaf Scholz to take action against unwanted projects - for example against France's attempt to save nuclear power.

Paris wants nuclear energy to be classified as “green” in the EU regulations. Because then approval procedures for reactors, turbines and cooling towers could be accelerated. Government subsidies might even be possible. So far, however, France has not gotten very far with this plan. And this despite the fact that many other countries support Paris, including Poland, Finland and the Netherlands.

Last week, the Commission presented a proposal for a new law that would encourage the production of clean technologies in Europe. The authority includes wind turbines, solar modules, batteries, heat pumps and systems for extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Brussels officials did not include nuclear energy on their list. And also because the Germans were against it. A great defeat for France.

That's why the country is now pursuing a new plan. President Emmanuel Macron, it is said, wants to smuggle a pro-nuclear sentence or two into the final declaration of the upcoming summit. A short passage describing nuclear power as "green" or "clean". That could still pave the way for subsidies and faster approval processes. But Macron's chances of success are slim.

Because Germany should continue to defend itself. Chancellor Scholz could hardly convey a summit document that advocates nuclear energy to the Green coalition partner.