Lawmakers Urge EU to Unlock Fusion Potential
MEPs from the European People’s Party are pressing the EU to treat nuclear fusion as more than just a research project. In a declaration released Tuesday, they urged the European Commission to create a clear and predictable regulatory framework that would encourage private investment in fusion energy.
During a public hearing in the European Parliament, lawmakers highlighted the huge costs associated with developing fusion and emphasized that political backing is now essential to move the technology toward deployment. “Fusion has reached a turning point. European industrial capability and private investments are converging toward deployment,” the declaration said.
MEPs including Tsvetelina Penkova (Bulgaria/EPP) and Hildegard Bentele (Germany/EPP) stressed that fusion represents a strategic opportunity to turn Europe’s scientific expertise into industrial power, while Pascal Arimont (Belgium/EPP) called it a path to a clean, safe, and reliable energy supply for the continent.
Regulatory Clarity: Key to Attracting Investment
The declaration asks the European Commission to provide guidance while allowing EU countries flexibility to set safety rules, licensing, and permitting for fusion power plants. Lawmakers also want fusion clearly distinguished from traditional nuclear fission under EU regulations, with requirements for radiation protection, waste management, decommissioning, and liability clearly defined.
Such clarity, they argue, is critical to attract investors and accelerate development. The Commission is expected to release a fusion strategy soon, although no timeline has been confirmed.
Fusion vs. Fission: What Makes It Different
Nuclear fusion produces energy by fusing small atomic nuclei, such as hydrogen, releasing enormous amounts of power—the same process that fuels the sun. In contrast, nuclear fission splits large atoms, generating heat and electricity but also producing radioactive waste. Fusion promises a cleaner, safer alternative, though it is still in development and not yet used to generate electricity.
Momentum is building in Europe. Germany, for instance, secured a €7 billion deal with energy company RWE in 2023 to build a pilot fusion plant by 2035. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to establish a supportive regulatory framework for fusion across Germany and the EU, criticizing past decisions to close the country’s nuclear plants. With industrial and private investment converging, European lawmakers see fusion as a pivotal step in ensuring the bloc’s energy independence and competitiveness.
