France and Germany vow to deepen ties on green rules, power links in energy ‘reset’

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Politico or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: France and Germany have agreed to reset their energy relationship, aligning on cross-border power links and green industrial policy
• The agreement signals a thaw in recent energy tensions, with both nations vowing to work together on reforming EU electricity markets and building hydrogen infrastructure
• It follows German openness to integrate nuclear-produced hydrogen under EU green rules — a key French priority

🔭 The context: France and Germany had diverged over nuclear energy’s role in Europe’s clean transition, creating friction in EU negotiations
• Paris pushed to recognize nuclear as green; Berlin initially resisted
• The reset comes as Europe accelerates decarbonization, requiring member states to present a united front on funding, infrastructure, and regulation

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: A coordinated Franco-German approach can shape EU climate and energy frameworks more effectively
• Cross-border collaboration on hydrogen, renewables, and grid infrastructure is essential to reaching net-zero goals
• Harmonizing policy boosts investor confidence in Europe's clean tech market and facilitates large-scale energy transition

⏭️ What's next: France and Germany plan joint projects on hydrogen pipelines, energy grids, and critical raw materials
• They also aim to align positions ahead of upcoming EU policy decisions on electricity market design and green subsidies
• Implementation timelines and funding strategies are expected later this year

💬 One quote: “We want to reconcile ecological ambition and economic competitiveness,” said French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire

📈 One stat: Germany and France combined account for nearly 40% of the EU’s total energy consumption — making their cooperation pivotal to the bloc’s climate goals

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of the companies directly linked to France and Germany's energy industry like RWE and EDF

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