France Champions Enhanced Nuclear Energy Funding at 2026 Global Summit

On March 10, 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted the second global nuclear energy summit in Boulogne-Billancourt near Paris, assembling about forty leaders from Europe and beyond to advocate for increased investment and innovation in civil nuclear energy. The summit, initiated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), aimed to promote safe and accessible nuclear energy amid rising fossil fuel prices linked to geopolitical tensions such as the Middle Eastern conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran.

Macron emphasized nuclear power's pivotal role in energy sovereignty, technological progress, and environmental goals. He reiterated the necessity of revising financing frameworks to facilitate construction of six new EPR2 reactors and development of innovative small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced modular reactors (AMRs). Macron called for technological neutrality in energy investments and urged public and private sectors, including banks and venture capital, to mobilize funds, highlighting the UK's supportive model. The summit also sought to establish international standards for nuclear reactors to boost Europe's competitiveness against rapid advances by China and the US.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed Macron's calls, describing Europe's previous reduction in nuclear investment as a "strategic error". She announced a €200 million guarantee fund dedicated to accelerating SMR and AMR projects, though acknowledging this is only a fraction of the estimated €251 billion needed over 25 years to develop new reactors and achieve Europe's decarbonization and energy independence goals. The EU plans to hasten SMR development to enable commercialization by 2030.

Currently, 413 nuclear reactors operate worldwide, contributing roughly 9% of global electricity production. Macron linked expanding nuclear energy capacity to meeting growing demands from emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and large data centers, stressing that without nuclear power, France would struggle to support such growth.

Looking forward, France’s upcoming nuclear policy council meeting in Penly is expected to greenlight plans for eight additional EPR2 reactors, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to its nuclear future. The 2026 summit builds on previous gatherings, including the 2024 summit in Brussels, and aligns with international ambitions such as the COP28 declaration to triple nuclear power capacity by 2050.