The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) factions are pushing for a significant shift in European energy policy, leveraging the “Weimar Triangle” – a dialogue format involving Germany, France and Poland – to spearhead the change. A newly drafted position paper, revealed by German newspaper “Welt”, signals a move away from the current prioritization of renewable energy sources, advocating for a more balanced approach underpinned by “technology neutrality.
The paper, adopted by the CDU/CSU parliamentary leaders, argues for a level playing field, financially and regulatorily, between renewables and nuclear energy. Proponents contend that prioritizing one technology over another fosters “ideological or one-sided preferences” that impede investment and stifle innovation. This stance is framed as essential to ensuring a secure, affordable and competitive energy supply for Europe.
The Weimar Triangle’s members – Germany, France and Poland – each possess distinct strengths in energy policy. Germany’s expertise in renewable energy expansion and grid infrastructure is viewed alongside France’s long-term planning experience with nuclear power and Poland’s current energy transition focused on security and independence. The paper emphasizes that these strengths are complementary and should be leveraged through increased cooperation, particularly given existing reciprocal support between EU nations when facing energy shortages, such as those arising from fluctuating wind and solar output in Germany or temporary shutdowns in French nuclear power plants due to cooling water constraints.
The initiative aims to elevate the Weimar Triangle’s role beyond mere coordination, positioning it as a driving force in shaping European energy policy. Manuel Hagel, CDU parliamentary leader in Baden-Württemberg, stressed that Europe’s capacity to influence the global order hinges on its ability to secure and control energy resources – a sentiment echoing the conviction that energy dominance translates to economic value creation and future control.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has further underscored the critical importance of energy security, transforming it from a purely economic consideration to a core element of national security. The paper calls for the protection and resilience of critical energy infrastructure to safeguard state functionality, population welfare and economic stability. A proposed trilateral energy dialogue within the Weimar Triangle would focus on supply security, grid expansion and storage technologies.
While acknowledging existing EU crisis preparedness frameworks, the paper suggests the Weimar Triangle can offer supplementary, practical support through early informal agreements on energy scenarios, coordinated response plans for shortages and compatible communication protocols – all without creating new bureaucratic structures.
Ultimately, coordinated action amongst Germany, France and Poland is projected to amplify their collective influence within the EU, potentially swaying other member states towards a common European energy policy. Proponents believe this unity is not only crucial for Europe’s internal strength but also essential to assert its interests on the global stage, particularly in the context of geopolitical competition from major powers like the United States and China.
