European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged on Monday that Europe's decision to scale back nuclear energy was a strategic error, according to Reuters, in a rare moment of self-criticism that reflects a painful reckoning with energy policy decisions that left the continent vulnerable to geopolitical shocks.
"The decision to turn our back on nuclear energy was a strategic mistake," von der Leyen said during remarks in Brussels. Her admission comes as Europe grapples with energy insecurity amplified by the Ukraine war and Middle East turmoil, with oil and gas prices threatening economic stability and political cohesion.
The statement marks a significant shift for the Commission president, who has previously balanced competing energy priorities within the diverse EU membership. Germany, the bloc's largest economy, shut down its last nuclear plants in 2023 following a post-Fukushima political consensus against atomic energy. Other nations like France, which derives the majority of its electricity from nuclear power, have maintained or expanded their programs.
"This is decades of German energy policy being effectively repudiated by the EU's top official," noted one energy analyst. "Von der Leyen, herself a German politician, is acknowledging that Berlin's anti-nuclear stance and push for Russian gas dependence were fundamental errors that weakened Europe's strategic position."
