Fusion Moves from Science to Strategy
MEPs from the European People’s Party are urging the EU to take nuclear fusion seriously as a key part of Europe’s energy future. In a declaration released Tuesday, lawmakers called on the European Commission to provide a clear, predictable regulatory framework to attract investment, noting that fusion projects require massive funding and political support to succeed.
The declaration came during a public hearing at the European Parliament, where MEPs highlighted that Europe’s industrial capacity and growing private investment are converging toward deployment. Bulgarian MEP Tsvetelina Penkova said the bloc must move beyond treating fusion as just a research topic, while German MEP Hildegard Bentele described it as an opportunity to turn scientific leadership into industrial strength.
Setting the Rules for Safer, Cleaner Energy
Lawmakers want the European Commission to give member states flexibility over safety requirements, licensing, and permitting for fusion power plants, while clearly distinguishing fusion from traditional nuclear fission. The declaration stresses that regulations should cover radiation protection, waste management, decommissioning, and liability — all tailored to the unique nature of fusion. Belgian MEP Pascal Arimont called fusion a strategic opportunity to provide Europe with clean, reliable energy and to strengthen the bloc’s competitiveness on the global stage.
Fusion vs. Fission: The Future of Power
Nuclear fusion, the process that powers the sun, produces energy by merging small atoms like hydrogen into larger nuclei, releasing enormous energy in the process. Unlike fission, which splits heavy atoms and generates radioactive waste, fusion is cleaner and safer, though it remains experimental.
Momentum for fusion is growing. In 2022, US scientists achieved “ignition,” producing more energy from a controlled fusion reaction than the energy used to start it. In Europe, Germany is leading the charge, signing a €7 billion deal with RWE to build a pilot fusion plant by 2035. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to create a supportive regulatory framework for fusion across Germany and the EU, criticizing earlier decisions to phase out nuclear power. Fusion, once a distant dream, is now poised to become a cornerstone of Europe’s energy future.
