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Key renewables vote in European Council postponed over nuclear spat

The Swedish presidency is leery of France blocking the approval process at the last minute.

BY VICTOR JACK  https://www.politico.eu/article/key-renewables-vote-council-postponed-nuclear-spat/ JUNE 14, 2023 

The Swedish Council presidency has again delayed the formal approval of the Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII) as it tries to resolve a French-led feud among countries over the role of nuclear energy.

EU ambassadors on Wednesday were due to sign off on REDIII, an integral part of the bloc’s flagship Fit for 55 climate package that aims to slash emissions by 55 percent by 2030 and ramp up the share of renewables in the EU’s energy mix to 42.5 percent.

But the vote was postponed until Friday to give EU countries time to digest a last-minute proposal by the Swedish presidency circulated late Tuesday meant to placate France, according to two diplomats, who were granted anonymity to speak candidly about country dynamics.

EU capitals and the Parliament reached a provisional deal on the text in March, but Paris has been pushing for a greater role for its atomic sector. Those efforts have riled nuclear-skeptic countries including Luxembourg and Germany, as well as countries previously sympathetic to France’s views. Earlier this month, 10 EU countries told the Swedish presidency to find a deal “as soon as possible.”

The Swedish presidency already pushed back approval of its compromise text last month out of concern that France could torpedo the process.

The new Swedish compromise text adds language to the text’s non-binding preamble that would allow a rebate for certain existing ammonia production plants in meeting an industry sub-target for renewable energy, providing a limited loophole for hydrogen derived from non-renewable sources.

Several EU ambassadors in today’s meeting queried whether the late addition would create legal uncertainties and require re-opening negotiations with the Parliament, the two diplomats said.

The postponement of a deal on REDIII has implications for a related file on sustainable aviation fuels, ReFuelEU aviation. That was due to be signed off on Wednesday, but has also been pushed back until Friday.

June 16, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | EUROPE, politics international