Against the possible extension of the operation of Germany's three nuclear power plants, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Analena Burbock, opposes the possible departure from the planned abandonment of nuclear energy as "insanity".
Foreign Minister Analena Burbock calls any possible departure from the planned nuclear phase-out "insanity" and opposes the possible extension of Germany's three nuclear power plants, which are scheduled to shut down for good at the end of the year.
"I am not convinced that nuclear power plants will solve the gas problem," Ms. Burbock told Bild am Sonntag, explaining that the risk of electricity problems in Bavaria - where she says the expansion of the natural gas network has been delayed - is under control. the "stress-test" period carried out by electricity providers.
The foreign minister and official of the Greens, with an eye on both the Christian Democrats (CDU) and their governing partners Liberals (FDP), also notes that those who are talking today about nuclear energy are actually talking about a return to it and not just about extending it of its use. "They want a return to nuclear energy. But over the past decade we have paid many billions to phase out nuclear power, and to reverse that (process) now would be madness and cost even more,” he argues.
In Germany, however, public debate continues over whether dealing with potential gas shortages in the winter could be made easier by extending the operation of Germany's three remaining nuclear power plants, which, as already decided by Angela Merkel's governments Merkel, they were going to close at the end of the year. Chancellor Olaf Solz has left the matter open for the time being, awaiting the result of the "strength tests" for electricity providers.
In the same interview, referring to the war in Ukraine, Analena Berbock reiterates that Germany will continue to support the Ukrainians militarily, if necessary. "I certainly would like the war to end as soon as possible, but unfortunately we have to consider that Ukraine will need more heavy weapons from its friends next summer as well." The Minister of Foreign Affairs also emphasized once again that "Ukraine also defends our own freedom, the peaceful order of Europe" and characteristically said: "We will support them with military and political means. For as long as needed. Perfect".
Last Friday, Olaf Scholz said Germany would not hand over weapons to Ukraine that would allow it to attack Russian soil, pointing out that it did not want the conflict to escalate - as did the rest of the partners. "The president of the USA also said this and we consider it a basic principle that we agree with. And that's why we also see what others are doing. Germany will not act alone. Our goal is not to allow Vladimir Putin to win the war and to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," the chancellor clarified.
