Germany has objected to draft EU plans to label nuclear power plants as an environmentally friendly energy source that can help countries reach their climate change goals.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz's new three-party coalition government voiced its objections in a formal letter to Brussels, ministers said on Saturday.
The EU aims to set standards for green investments, helping climate-friendly projects attract private capital and stamping out “greenwashing” – where investors and companies overstate their eco-credentials.
“As the federal government, we have once again clearly expressed our rejection of the inclusion of nuclear energy. It is risky and expensive,” said Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck.
In the letter, published by the Economy Ministry, the German government also pointed to the lack of safety requirements regarding nuclear power plants.
“Serious accidents with large, cross-border and long-term hazards to humans and the environment cannot be excluded,” the letter read.
It added that the question of where to store radioactive waste in the long term was still unanswered.
The EU rules have been long delayed, with countries split over whether nuclear energy and natural gas merit a green badge.
Austria has already said it would take legal action if the European Commission proceeds with its draft plan to label both as sustainable investments.
The German government said it supported a temporary green label for natural gas as a bridge solution on the bloc's path to climate neutrality.
“Gas-fired power plants can facilitate the rapid transition to renewable energies and the reduction of emissions in the energy sector as a whole,” it said.
During months of debate on the proposals, Germany and other EU member states argued that gas investments were needed to help them quit more-polluting coal.
Others said labelling a fossil fuel as green would undermine the credibility of the EU as it seeks to be a global leader in tackling climate change.
Emissions-free nuclear energy is similarly divisive.
France, the Czech Republic and Poland are among those saying that nuclear power should have a big role in curbing global warming. Austria, Germany and Luxembourg are among those opposed.
The European Commission hopes to adopt a final text by the end of the month.
Germany is due to cease operations at its remaining nuclear power stations this year.
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Company%20profile
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Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
