European Commission president: Europe's abandonment of civil nuclear energy is a "strategic mistake"

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called Europe's abandonment of civilian nuclear energy a "strategic mistake", arguing that recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East have exposed the fragility of the continent's dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Von der Leyen's remarks came during  the nuclear energy summit held in Paris on Tuesday, coinciding with the second week of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

  "It was a strategic mistake for Europe to turn its back on a reliable and affordable source of low-emission energy," von der Leyen said, referring to nuclear power.

Reliance on fossil fuels

 "In terms of fossil fuels, we are completely dependent on expensive and volatile imports, and this puts us at a structural disadvantage compared to other regions," she said.

  The ongoing crisis in the Middle East clearly highlights this fragility, she said, noting that the continent in return has low-carbon domestic energy sources that can boost its energy independence.

"We have two domestic sources of low-carbon energy, nuclear power and renewable energy, and together they can be a guarantee of independence, security of supply and competitiveness if used well."

Macron: Nuclear energy is the key to energy sovereignty

For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the importance of nuclear energy in achieving energy sovereignty and reducing carbon emissions.

"Nuclear energy is the key to reconciling energy independence and reducing carbon emissions to carbon neutrality," he said during the summit.

He added that the over-reliance on hydrocarbons could turn them into a geopolitical pressure tool or even a means of destabilization.

Europe's share of nuclear power declines

 Von der Leyen pointed out that the share of nuclear energy in European electricity production has declined significantly over the past decades, explaining that "while in 1990 about a third of Europe's electricity came from nuclear energy, today this percentage does not exceed 15%."

It also announced that the EU will provide a financial guarantee of 200 million euros (about $230 million) to support investment in innovative nuclear technologies.

Renewed interest in nuclear energy

Nuclear power entered a period of decline after the Fukushima disaster in Japan in 2011, which has brought nuclear energy concerns back to the fore since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

However, global interest in energy sovereignty and the search for clean sources to counter climate change have rekindled momentum to nuclear power in recent years.

According to the World Nuclear Association, nuclear power accounts for about 9% of the world's electricity produced, with about 440 nuclear reactors operating in about 30 countries.