Photo : REUTERS/Michel Euler
15 November 2021, Monday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #43
IN FOCUS
By Padmashree Anandhan
France to build new nuclear energy reactors: what does this mean?
On 09 November, President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will build new nuclear reactors. The decision aims at reducing the country’s dependency on a foreign power for energy supplies, meeting the climate goals and keeping the prices under control. This re-launch of building nuclear reactors has not occurred for decades in France. Hence, one needs to look into the background of France’s nuclear energy and analyze what the relaunch means for France. Macron said that “it was meant to guarantee France's energy independence, to guarantee our country's electricity supply and achieve our objectives, in particular carbon neutrality in 2050,"
The decision
The construction of six new pressurized-water reactors is expected to begin shortly as the announcement of relaunch comes from Macron. According to a report by RTE, it recommended that construction of 14 large reactors along with small modular reactors will be the cheapest way for France to reach its net-zero emissions target by 2050. The major factor that have accelerated the decision is one being the growing energy crisis in Europe. Two, delay in completion of the project Flamanville, and three to meet the climate change goals by producing renewable energies.
Background to France’s nuclear energy production
Across the globe, Europe heavily depends on global gas and oil producers. But within Europe, France is the most nuclear-dependent country with 56 operational reactors generating 70 percent of electricity from nuclear energy. Assessing its need, in 2007 it began a new third-generation European Pressurised Reactor (EPR- world’s largest nuclear reactor) project called Flamanville in Normandy. This project has become a setback due to technical and safety problems which have led to massive delays and excess cost. The French government had decided not to launch any new nuclear projects until the completion of the reactor in Flamanville. The former French president Francois Hollande had a different agenda in dealing with the share of nuclear energy in electricity generation. The target was to bring the 75 percent of power production to 50 percent and to shut down the oldest nuclear power plant (Fessenheim) by May 2017. Later the French Energy Transition for Green Growth Law that was adopted in 2015 called for the closing of older reactors only to open space for installing new reactors.
What does this relaunch mean?
First, presidential polls. Macron's status of the presidency will be decided only after his re-elections in the upcoming April Presidential polls. Giving a solution to France’s most urgent energy problem can upscale his reputation to win the elections. Macron had pledged to reduce the nuclear contribution to France’s energy sector to 50 percent from 75 percent by 2035. With this going out of reach, showcasing nuclear energy as a probable solution shall be a bonus point.
Second, it has stirred debate in the region. The government has been criticized for opting for new nuclear energy construction with an existing one already in the backlog. While the opposition parties have condemned the announcement, on the other side the EPF has appreciated the move as it had proposed to build six new reactors.
Third, the climate question. Macron announced the relaunch of nuclear reactors at the end of COP26 meaning France was opting for nuclear energy for cleaner and renewable energies as a promise to meet its climate change goals. Nuclear energy which is relatively expensive emits lower than coal, oil and gas but at the end the radioactive waste takes tens of thousands of years to deplete. Hence it is a question whether climate friendly nuclear energy production is climate friendly in real or not.
References:
“Macron says France will build new nuclear energy reactors,” Reuters, 10 November 2021
“France vows to build new nuclear reactors to meet climate goals,” Euronews, 10 November 2021
IN FOCUS
By Joeana Cera Matthews and Vaishnavi Iyer
BULGARIA
General Elections: Exit polls predicts new anti-graft party to lead coalition
On 14 November, Bulgaria held general elections for the third time in 2021. Previous elections conducted in April and July resulted in fragmented parliaments that could not prove a majority or build a successful coalition. According to preliminary polls, a newly founded anti-corruption party called the ‘We Continue the Change’ won 26.3 per cent of the votes while the ruling GERB party followed with 21.4 per cent. Being the least-vaccinated country in the EU, this election is crucial for Bulgaria as the country continues to reel in a fresh wave of COVID-19 infections. The preliminary voter turnout was 40 per cent, an estimate lower than in previous elections.The official results will be announced in a few days. (“Bulgaria's new anti-graft party holds narrow lead in election,” France24, 15 November 2021; Christian Oliver, “Kiril Petkov is the big winner of the night in Bulgarian election,” POLITICO, 14 November 2021; “Bulgaria: Exit polls show tight race between anti-graft party and conservatives,” Deutsche Welle, 14 November 2021)
FRANCE
Macron changes the blue of the French flag to a darker navy blue shade
Local media reported that French President Emmanuel Macron had changed the colour of the official French flag to a deeper navy blue, replacing the former brighter hue. According to Europe 1, Macron intended to bring back the navy blue flag as a symbol of the French Revolution. The navy blue colour has long been utilized by France's navy and numerous government buildings around the country. However, in 1976, under President Giscard d'Estaing, the French state changed the color to a brighter blue to match the blue of the European flag. The change in flags at the Élysée Palace has not been publicly disclosed, and no instructions have been issued for other institutions to follow suit. Macron's return to navy blue was met with considerable opposition, with some claiming the new colour was unappealing and would clash with the EU flag, and some sentimental of the version before 1976. According to Europe 1, all parties involved say that the colour change is not intended to be regarded as an anti-EU gesture. In January, France will assume the rotating EU presidency. Macron is also set to face presidential elections in April next year. (“Macron switches to using navy blue on France's flag - reports,” BBC, 15 November 2021)
ITALY
Italy provides stage for dissident art show by the “Chinese Banksy”
The northern Italian city of Brescia provided dissident artist Badiucao a stage for his solo exhibition. Despite threats from Chinese officials, the organizers continued with the show to promote “freedom of expression”. The Chinese embassy sent a letter to Brescia with underlying threats. They deemed Badiucao’s “anti-chinese lies” to have the potential to “jeopardize'' relations between China and Italy. The exhibition was titled: “China is (not) near - Works of a dissent artist” and was displayed in the Santa Giulia museum.The exhibition includes a hybrid image of Carrie Lam and Xi Jin Ping, as well as 64 paintings created with his own blood to reflect the timepieces issued to troops during the Tiananmen Square massacre. A rocking chair that was formerly used as a torture device is also on exhibit. The artist would be seated in the rocking chair, reading a journal given by a source in Wuhan, which had the COVID-19 pandemic's 100-day record. Badiucao is well-known for his critiques of Beijing. He is aware that he is a Chinese state adversary and had first kept his true identity hidden. He is presently based in Australia, where he works as an exile. (“Italian city opens Chinese dissident art show despite pressure from Beijing,” Deutsche Welle, 13 November 2021)
THE UNITED KINGDOM
BREXIT: The EU’s ‘retaliation package’ if Britain suspends Northern Ireland Protocol
If the UK unilaterally suspends the Northern Ireland trade rules, the draft retaliation package enables the EU to impose tariffs on British exports in a month. According to European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic, a suggestive sanctions list would be discussed with member countries on 16 November. Aligning with the imposition of sanctions, scrapping the Brexit deal as a whole is also under consideration. The retaliation package is seen as a measure that would thwart British threats of suspending the Northern Ireland protocol. (Hans von der Burchard, “EU to review retaliation package in case Britain blows up Brexit deal,” POLITICO, 13 November 2021)
CLIMATE CHANGE
UK announces a climate agreement declaring phasing out coal
The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the Downing Street press reported the agreement to have marked the “beginning of the death knell for coal power”. The agreement urged countries to push their efforts to reduce coal consumption and fossil fuel subsidies. It was the first agreement to actually mention ‘phasing down coal’ and ‘coal’ in general. However, Johnson noted that this success was laced with “disappointment” adding that climate change is already a life-or-death issue for most individuals. Many campaigners have slammed the summit as having no actual intention of limiting global warming. Experts had low hopes for the UN meeting before it took place. Greenpeace's executive director Jennifer Morgan stated that the working of the agreement was “weak” however the ending of “coal era” was very significant to the climate pledge. (“UK says COP26 climate pact 'historic' but 'tinged with disappointment',” Euronews, 14 November 2021)
COVID-19
Austria: Unvaccinated to be under lockdown
On 14 November, Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announced the government’s decision to impose a nation-wide lockdown targeting the unvaccinated. He said: “We must raise the vaccination rate. It is shamefully low… we have told one third of the population: you will not leave your (home) apart from for certain reasons.” The decision, arrived via video conference with the governors of the nine Austrian provinces, is expected to affect around two million from Austria’s nine million population. On 12 November, two provinces — Upper Austria and Salzburg — declared a similar decision, but Schallenberg's announcement expanded the same to the entire country. Only 65 per cent of the Austrian population is fully vaccinated, which is one of the lowest rates in western Europe. The surge in infections is another reason for the declaration; on 13 November, more than 13,000 fresh cases were reported. Unlike the Netherlands that has imposed a three-week partial lockdown, Austria does not want to restrict those who have been fully vaccinated and has ,thus, called for an initial lockdown of 10 days. (“Austria orders nationwide lockdown for those not fully vaccinated against Covid,” The Guardian, 14 November 2021; Carlo Martuscelli, “Austria imposes lockdown on unvaccinated – POLITICO,” POLITICO, 14 November 2021)
MIGRATION
EU partners and Russia debate the escalating crisis at the Belarusian and Polish border
The US, UK, France, Ireland, Norway, Estonia and Albania blamed Belarus for having put lives in danger and orchestrating “instrumentalization” of refugees across borders at the UN Security Council. The Western nations deemed the Belarusian actions to divert attention from its human rights violations and having an aim of destabilizing the borders of neighbouring EU countries. Russia rebuked the allegations made by other countries at the UNSC. While the western countries deemed the situation as “unacceptable”, Russia’s deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy described the countries to have a “masochist” inclination for having brought up the situation in front of Russia and the international stage. He expressed that the EU had previously faced the same issues and must try to understand why people are leaving their homes and which countries are actually responsible for this displacement. Germany called for the international community and politicians to help with the crisis. Owing to the same, Turkey's Civil Aviation Authority (SHGM) declared that travellers from Iraq, Syria and Yemen would not be allowed to board or purchase tickets from Turkish airports to Belarus. They mentioned that the Belarusian authorities complied with the same. (“Belarus: Western nations, Russia debate migration conflict at UN,” Deutsche Welle, 12 November 2021; “Turkey bars some Middle Eastern nationals from flying to Belarus,”Deutsche Welle, 12 November 2021;”German politicians urge help for Belarus border migrants,” Deutsche Welle, 14 November 2021 )
INTERNATIONAL
France: Macron hosts world leaders for conference on Libya
On 12 November, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted world leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the US Vice President Kamala Harris in Paris for a conference on Libya. Since Dictator Moammar Gadhafi's fall in 2011, Libya has been in a chaotic state. The UN-backed conference decided on the Libyan presidential elections to be conducted on 24 December, as threats of sanctions were made on actors who intended to foil the plans. A statement released post-conference warned: “Persons or entities inside or outside Libya who attempt to obstruct, challenge, manipulate or tamper with the electoral process and political transition will be held accountable and may be subject to UN sanctions.” Leaders from Libya, Egypt and Italy also attended the conference while Russia and Turkey were represented by low-level diplomats. This is attributed to Turkey being concerned about France seeking withdrawal of the Turkish forces from Libya while the Libyan National Army collaborates with Wagner group’s Russian mercenaries. (“World powers call for support for December 24 elections in Libya,” Deutsche Welle, 12 November 2021)