EU Split Over Nuclear Power Blocks Bid for Green Finance Deal 

Dec 11, 2019

Share

(Bloomberg) -- Want the lowdown on European markets? In your inbox before the open, every day. Sign up here.

The European Union’s 28 states failed to reach agreement on landmark regulation for green finance, tripping up the bloc’s attempts to be a leader in the field.

Envoys meeting in Brussels on Wednesday rejected a deal with the European Parliament on how to define green investments, according to two officials who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. Countries that support the inclusion of nuclear energy on the list wanted to revise the text, one of them said.

The EU’s list of sustainable activities for investment purposes, dubbed “taxonomy,” is the centerpiece of its push to regulate the fast growing market of green finance. It’s meant to define what’s green and what’s not, an effort that could find a range of uses and serve as an example for governments around the world.

National governments will try to agree on a new position on Monday and potentially seek further talks with lawmakers, according to the officials. Despite the EU’s vocal support for the fight against climate change, agreements on the concrete rules often get held up by national interests.

--With assistance from Viktoria Dendrinou.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alexander Weber in Brussels at aweber45@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Dale Crofts at dcrofts@bloomberg.net, Ross Larsen

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.