“Nuclear energy has all the advantages to become part of the solution to achieve the climate goals we have set for ourselves by 2050,” argued Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, announcing the summit.

He was echoed by the Director-General of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi: “Nuclear energy is an extraordinary resource whose full potential we must harness if we want to mitigate climate change. The narrative that pits nuclear energy against wind and solar power is mistaken. It is time for us to realize the truth, for leaders to pull the necessary levers, and to help achieve global climate goals.”

European Council Summit

After the Nuclear Energy Summit, PM Tusk will participate in the European Council Summit, which is to begin in the afternoon and last until Friday.

In his invitation to summit participants, European Council President Charles Michel has emphasized the imperative for the EU to pivot its focus towards effectively implementing and enforcing sanctions against Russia. Furthermore, he has stressed the need to capitalize on the remarkable gains from frozen Russian assets across Europe.

Michel has also underscored the critical juncture faced by the European Union amidst the ongoing three-year-long Russian aggression against Ukraine.

“For decades, Europe has not invested enough in its security and defense... It is high time to take radical and concrete steps to be ready for defense and to switch the EU economy into wartime mode,” he wrote, emphasizing that this means increased spending on defense and joint procurement of weapons.

Alongside discussions on security and defense, the summit agenda encompasses a spectrum of pressing issues. These include deliberations on the EU enlargement process involving Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, and Moldova. Challenges pertaining to migration to the EU, as well as ongoing farmer’s protests in several European nations, will also be on the table for consideration.

Leaders participating in the European Council Summit are also scheduled to meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

On the sidelines of the summit on Thursday, a meeting of the leaders of Nordic and Baltic countries, as well as Ireland and Poland, is also scheduled.

As the event draws to a close on Friday, Prime Minister Donald Tusk is slated to convene with heads of government from non-EU countries, namely Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, in a bid to foster international dialogue and cooperation.