Lawmakers Call for Clear Rules and Investment
MEPs from the European People’s Party are urging the EU to take nuclear fusion seriously as a near-future energy source. On Tuesday, they issued a declaration pushing the European Commission to establish a clear and predictable regulatory framework that can attract private investment, given the enormous costs involved in developing fusion technology.
“Fusion has reached a turning point. European industrial capability and private investments are converging toward deployment,” the declaration reads. Lawmakers stressed that Europe has a chance to turn its scientific expertise into industrial strength while securing a clean, reliable, and competitive energy supply.
Flexible Regulations for a New Technology
The MEPs want the Commission to provide guidance while allowing EU countries to set their own safety, licensing, and permitting standards for fusion plants. They also call for fusion to be clearly distinguished from traditional nuclear fission under EU law, including rules for radiation protection, waste management, decommissioning, and liability. Clear regulations, they argue, are essential to encourage investment and accelerate the rollout of fusion power.
Fusion vs. Fission: A Cleaner Future
Fusion generates energy by merging small atomic nuclei, like hydrogen, releasing massive amounts of power—the same process that powers the sun. Unlike fission, which splits atoms and produces radioactive waste, fusion promises a cleaner and safer alternative, though it is still in development.
Germany is leading the EU’s fusion efforts, signing a €7 billion deal with RWE in 2023 to build a pilot plant by 2035. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to create a regulatory framework for fusion both in Germany and across Europe, criticizing past decisions to close the country’s nuclear plants. Lawmakers see fusion as a strategic opportunity to strengthen Europe’s energy independence and global competitiveness.
