A key European Union law on scaling up renewable energy by the end of the decade has been delayed amid last-minute wrangling over the role of nuclear power, fueling concern over the bloc’s green deal.
Member-state officials had been due to signal their support for the Renewable Energy Directive at a meeting Wednesday, paving the way for a formal vote. The RED is aimed at expanding technologies such as wind and solar to 42.5% of the energy mix by the end of the decade.
Yet disagreements over the role that nuclear power would play in helping industries meet climate targets — particularly in France — have meant the law has been removed from the agenda of Wednesday’s meeting. A further date has not yet been set, according to people familiar with the matter.
The move echoes a last-minute hiccup that hampered legislation on slashing emissions from cars earlier this year as Germany made a push to include so-called e-fuels in the regulation.
