Therese Ribera has abandoned the anti-nuclear rhetoric she held as Minister of Ecological Transition in Spain, which led her to impose the closure of all nuclear energy in the country by 2035, and in her first public appearance after learning that she would be the next European vice-president, Competition and green transition did not oppose the construction of new nuclear power plants by EU countries, as requested by the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
In a public appearance on Tuesday, when asked about his position on nuclear energy, Ribera responded that “I think there has been… great respect for each different decision that each member state has taken into consideration when defining their electricity systems and their different options.”
Ribera also stressed during this appearance about her mandate as president at the meetings of energy ministers during the Spanish presidency of the EU in 2023, that she “has played a very important role in not minimizing anyone and facilitating solutions that can adapt and make sense in the strategic change that is driving the European economy.
With these statements, Ribera shows that he will not be belligerent against nuclear energy in Brussels despite his furious actions against this type of energy in Spain. Furthermore, as a minister of the government of Pedro Sanchezworked in Europe to prevent the Commission from declaring nuclear energy green, a battle he ultimately lost. He also fought to ensure that gas was not considered green energy in Europe either. Ribera went so far as to call this decision a “big mistake”.
Ribera’s opposition to nuclear energy could have been a determining factor for the Spanish minister not to be appointed as energy commissioner, even though competition is a key position within the Commission although it does not have legislative functions – she will be responsible for leading a green transition, fair and competitive group. France’s position in favour of nuclear energy is well known and it has publicly complained about the possibility of Ribera being appointed to head European energy policy.
The French MEP Christophe Grudlermember of the centrist Renew Europe group, stressed in August that “in every political group there are those who will not vote for someone who is a declared opponent of the nuclear cause”. “The commissioner is there to implement the Commission’s programme, there is no room for personal feelings,” he added. “He will have to accept… and I can assure you that we will make sure that he accepts,” he said.
The pressure from France seems to have borne fruit for the interests of his country, which is eminently nuclear, and Ribera will not head the Energy Commission, a position for which the Dane was proposed. Dan Jorgensen. Von der Leyen ordered her commissioners to support the construction of small-scale nuclear reactors.
Ribera and Sánchez have imposed the closure of all nuclear power plants in Spain, despite opposition from the entire sector. According to the timetable approved by the government, the closures of nuclear facilities will begin in 2027 and end in 2035. Nuclear power, which does not emit carbon dioxide, remains the second most consumed energy in Spain. It represents 20% of the total and so far in September it is the most consumed energy, ahead of solar and wind.
