Von der Leyen shares regrets, growth plans at European nuclear summit

March 12, 2026, 10:18AMNuclear News
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (Photo: EC Audiovisual Service)

In 1990, 30 percent of Europe’s electricity came from nuclear power plants. In 2026, it is closer to 15 percent.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen lamented the decline of nuclear energy, calling it a “strategic mistake” when Europe turned its back on a “reliable, affordable source of low-emissions power.”