German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has declared that a return to nuclear energy in Germany is unfeasible, as it would require a parliamentary majority that the ruling coalition lacks. The Social Democrats, part of the coalition, are opposed to this idea, which complicates any potential shift back to nuclear energy. This statement comes in the wake of remarks made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a nuclear summit near Paris, where she outlined her support for nuclear energy as a reliable and low-emission power source.

At the summit, von der Leyen criticized the decision of some EU countries to abandon nuclear energy, characterizing it as a strategic error. She also announced new financial support from the EU for nuclear power plants, further emphasizing the importance of this energy source in the context of climate change and energy security. Her comments sparked significant backlash in Germany, which officially took its last nuclear reactor offline in 2023, following a long-standing policy shift that started 15 years ago after the Fukushima disaster in Japan.

Germany's nuclear phase-out has historical significance, as the country operated 37 nuclear reactors, which supplied up to 30% of its electricity since 1961. The complete abandonment of nuclear energy was largely motivated by safety concerns stemming from the Fukushima incident, marking a pivotal moment in German energy policy. The ongoing debate on nuclear energy within the EU and criticisms of Germany's energy strategy pose crucial questions about the future energy landscape in Europe, especially amidst the transition to sustainable energy sources.