Seven European countries oppose the inclusion of nuclear hydrogen in the EU's renewable energy bill

Seven European countries, led by Germany, submitted a written request to the European Commission to reject the EU's green transport transition goals, reigniting a debate with France over nuclear hydrogen production, which had blocked an EU agreement on renewable energy policy.

Seven countries -- Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain -- signed the veto.

In a letter to the European Commission, the seven countries reiterated their opposition to the inclusion of nuclear energy in the green transport transition.

France and eight other EU countries argue that hydrogen production from nuclear power should not be excluded from the EU's renewable energy policy.

France said the aim was to ensure that the cells installed in Europe could take full advantage of nuclear and renewable energy, rather than limiting the potential of renewable hydrogen energy. Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia all supported the inclusion of nuclear hydrogen production in the category of hydrogen production from renewable sources.

But seven EU countries, led by Germany, do not agree to include nuclear hydrogen production as a renewable low-carbon fuel.

Seven EU countries, led by Germany, acknowledged that hydrogen production from nuclear power "may have a role to play in some member states and a clear regulatory framework is needed for this as well". However, they believe it must be addressed as part of EU gas legislation that is being rewritten.