ENS Proposes Modifications to the EU Taxonomy Complementary Delegated Act

On 31 December the European Commission invited the EU member states to provide comments to the EU Taxonomy Complementary Delegated Act (CDA) by 21 January. The European Nuclear Society welcomes the inclusion of nuclear within this sustainable finance regulation and together with its think-tank, High Scientific Council, proposes following seven modifications to the available draft CDA:

  1. Include nuclear energy in sustainable energy activities and not just, de facto, as a transitional energy.
  2. Explicitly include fuel cycle activities needed for nuclear energy.
  3. Explicitly include the maintenance operations of nuclear installations in the taxonomy.
  4. Review the deadlines set for the construction and extension of reactors.
  5. Review the deadline for having a deep geological repository operational.
  6. Review CDA provisions so that they do not interfere with, or hinder, the responsibilities and action of the relevant safety authorities.
  7. Do not require the use of ‘’accident-tolerant fuel’’ (ATF).

Please read the full text below with justifications sent out on 19th January to the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, Vice-Presidents, Frans Timmermans, Valdis Dombrovskis and EC Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson. From beginning of January several ENS Member Societies expressed their concerns on the CDA to the respective national ministries.

A great common effort.

ENS Proposals for Modifications of EU Taxonomy CDA

The EU Taxonomy Complementary Delegated Act – next steps

There is no public consultation foreseen for the regulation anymore.
The EU member states could provide comments by 21 January on the CDA.
After assessment and potential changes the draft CDA will be sent to the College of Commissioners for approval and then to the Council and European Parliament for adoption or rejection (without changes). After the adoption the sustainable finance regulation will enter into force on January 1st 2023.