nucleareurope participates in DigiDECOM’s NuclearNEXT 2026

On 24 September 2026, nucleareurope Legal & International Relations Director Berta Picamal participated in the Norway-held DigiDECOM NuclearNEXT conference. This edition of the conference – held yearly – focused on the role of new technologies in nuclear, and explored ongoing developments related to the potential future use of nuclear power in Norway.

As part of the event, Berta intervened in a session on political and societal aspects of renewed nuclear interest, to highlight recent trends in political discussions on nuclear across Europe.

Following a brief introduction to nucleareurope’s working structure, she detailed planned nuclear investments in the EU, noting that installed nuclear capacity in the EU is set to reach close to 150 Gigawatt (GW) by 2050, from around 100 GW today. She then added that enabling policy measures will be necessary to support the delivery of these investments.

“Technology neutral policies are key to the success of the energy transition, and concrete measures are needed to stimulate ongoing nuclear investments across the EU.” Stressed Berta, referencing nucleareurope’s recent Action Plan for Nuclear, which develops recommendations for a truly technology neutral EU policy framework.

Berta however noted that there have been a number of positive evolutions at EU and national levels in the past years. She welcomed the change in narrative in EU institutions, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for example insisting on the need to invest in both renewables and nuclear in multiple speeches.

Concluding her intervention, Berta detailed some recent developments at member States level, including the lifetime extension of the Almaraz nuclear power plant until 2030, or the acquisition of shares in the Borssele nuclear power plant by the Dutch government. She particularly welcomed the recent approval by the Italian parliament of a return to nuclear power in the country.