After several nuclear power plants were shut down in the late 1990s, Stockholm made a 180-degree turn.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson outlined a possible partnership with France for the construction of new nuclear power plants in Sweden on Tuesday in Paris. “The Franco-Swedish partnership has good potential in terms of nuclear energy,” he underlined in the courtyard of the Elysée, together with French President Emmanuel Macron, on the occasion of his first trip to the European Union since Sweden took over the rotating presidency of the Council on 1 January January. “The new Swedish government is determined to build new nuclear power plants and we are very impressed by the French experience in this area,” he added.
This government, formed in mid-October, is based on an unprecedented alliance with Sweden’s nationalist Democrats (SD), the big winners in September’s parliamentary elections. Sweden “must buy two nuclear reactors,” Ulf Kristersson told Swedish journalists during his trip to Paris. “And I’m totally open to France being one of the countries making sure Sweden has more nuclear power,” he added. There are currently six reactors in operation in Sweden at three different power plants commissioned between 1975 and 1985. Several other reactors have been shut down since 1999. The Nordic countries have long been one of the hopes of the French nuclear industry to revitalize civilian nuclear power in Europe. At the end of a construction site spanning more than 17 years, the French Areva built Europe’s first EPR reactor in Finland.
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Strengthening cooperation between countries
The Swedish Prime Minister also expressed his desire to increase cooperation with France in the areas of defense and space. The two leaders also reiterated Europe’s determination to support Ukraine in the tenth month of Russia’s offensive as winter descends on that country. “Ukrainians need our support more than ever,” said Emmanuel Macron. “Ukraine’s victory is existential for Europe and the whole world,” added Ulf Kristersson.
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The French President also reiterated his desire for Sweden and Finland to join NATO, which is currently being blocked by Turkey, to happen “as soon as possible”. “You can count on the support and solidarity of France,” he stressed. He also advocated a common European “response” to the massive American investment plan, particularly on environmental issues, to defend European industrialists and “jobs”. “We need a strategy + made in Europe +”, he repeated. Above all, the Swedish EU Presidency wants to emphasize free trade and rule out any protectionist reflex, enough to stoke tensions at a time when Paris and Berlin are sharpening their tone against the United States and its plan (“Inflation Reduction Act”) want. .