The German federal government maintains its firm stance on phasing out nuclear power, even in the wake of new nuclear energy plans announced by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Deputy government spokesperson Steffen Meyer told the German news agency on Wednesday that Germany has made a clear decision to exit nuclear energy. He said the chancellor personally shares von der Leyen’s assessment-she has described the move away from nuclear power as a “strategic mistake”-but also stressed that this does not affect Germany’s policy. Meyer affirmed that the chancellor has repeatedly stated that the decision to leave nuclear power has been taken and will be upheld.
When asked how Germany plans to engage with von der Leyen’s idea of turning Europe into a “global centre of next‑generation nuclear power” Meyer explained that the government’s energy policy is based on a balanced mix, security of supply, and the expansion of available energy options. He highlighted that economic minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) has already made several decisions to broaden the energy supply.
Meyer added that research areas such as energy storage and renewable technologies are also a priority, noting that many aspects of these technologies will be optimized and improved moving forward. “We are building our energy mix around these developments” he said.