Answer given by Ms McGuinness on behalf of the European Commission
10.3.2021
Member States were informed regularly in the preparation of the draft delegated act on the climate objectives of the Taxonomy Regulation[1]. The draft was also shared with Member States shortly before its publication for feedback, and the Member State Expert Group on Sustainable Finance is regularly updated regarding the draft delegated act, most recently on 26 January 2021.
The Commission is reviewing the feedback received, against the requirements the co-legislators set out in the Taxonomy Regulation for the delegated act.
Namely, the activities and technical screening criteria should take into account relevant EU legislation, should promote a high level of environmental ambition, avoid market distortion and be designed to facilitate their usability. The stakeholders’ feedback referred to by the Honourable Member will be closely reviewed in this respect.
While nuclear energy is generally recognised as a low-carbon energy source, views differ notably on the potential environmental impact of nuclear waste.
Reflecting the delicate compromise among co-legislators on the issue, following the Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance (TEG) recommendations, and in order to carry out a credible, scientifically rigorous and balanced assessment, the Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) will report on the ‘do no significant harm’ aspects of nuclear energy.
This will be reviewed by nuclear radiation and waste experts under Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty, as well as by experts on environmental impacts from the Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER).
These inputs will inform the decision by the Commission on whether or not the conditions for including nuclear energy in the delegated act are met.
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088, OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13‐43.