Brussels The French Thierry Breton is actually the EU commissioner for the internal market. Its purpose is to ensure that companies encounter as few obstacles as possible if they want to act across internal EU borders.
However, since his appointment, Breton has left little doubt that this role will not be enough for him. His boss Ursula von der Leyen often relied on Breton during the pandemic when there were special tasks to be distributed. First he should work with the Internet providers to provide more bandwidth than the demand increased in lockdown. Then he brought suppliers together to speed up mask production. And finally, he was hired to fix vaccine production problems.
Breton embodies the French attitude to industrial policy, according to which the state does not have to hold back when it recognizes a problem, but can intervene courageously. He is also approaching European industrial projects relating to chips and hydrogen.
In comparison, the planned taxonomy is a tentative measure. First of all, it’s just about a label. The taxonomy is intended to define technologies that are viewed as “sustainable”. But this question sparked a fundamental dispute. On the one hand there are environmentalists who fight for the pure theory of the energy transition: electricity only from renewable sources, phasing out nuclear power, gas at most within narrow limits for the transition.
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On the other hand is Breton. His goal is to have nuclear power classified as sustainable in the taxonomy. The commission has hesitated for months, set deadlines several times and then let them pass. Most recently, she wanted to announce her decision shortly before Christmas, but then withdrew again at short notice. Now a date should be found in January.
Breton cheerfully rams in stakes for nuclear power
The background is that one would like to coordinate even better within the EU – especially with the German Greens and Economics Minister Robert Habeck. In Germany, the final phase-out of nuclear power is getting closer: On December 31st, three more nuclear reactors will be switched off in Germany. Then only three will remain, the lights should go out there forever by the end of 2022. “The nuclear phase-out is irreversible,” states the new Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) unequivocally.
Breton, meanwhile, rams in pegs. In an interview with Handelsblatt at the end of November, he said it would be impossible to achieve the climate targets without nuclear power. “It’s very clear to me, and I think everyone understands,” he added. Generating twice as much electricity is “simply not feasible” without nuclear power. 26 percent of Europe’s energy supply is currently covered by nuclear reactors. “In order to achieve climate neutrality, we have to use everything that is available to us,” warned the French commissioner.
In the “Welt” he followed up, and there, too, refers to unambiguous numbers. “That the EU can become CO2-neutral without nuclear power,” said Breton, “is a lie.”
More: Interview with Breton: Saving the climate without nuclear power? “It’s impossible, everyone understands that.”