By Michael Nienaber

BERLIN (Reuters). German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his three-party coalition government have voiced their objections to a European Union plan to classify nuclear power plants in a form of sustainable energy. Ministers stated this on Saturday.

EU Taxonomy is designed to establish a standard for green investment. It will help climate-friendly projects attract private capital.

We, the federal government have again stated our opposition to the inclusion of nuclear energy. “It is dangerous and costly,” Robert Habeck, Vice-Chancellor and Economy Minister and Steffi Lemke Environment Minister (both senior Greens members), said.

The German government highlighted in its letter to Brussels (published by Economy Ministry’s web page) that no safety regulations were being enforced for nuclear power stations.

Berlin stated in its letter that serious accidents that pose large-scale, long-term and cross-border dangers to the environment and humans cannot be excluded. He also noted that it was not possible to know where radioactive waste should be stored for the long-term.

While the EU regulations have been delayed for a long time, countries are divided on whether or not nuclear energy is worthy of a green badge. Austria said that it plans to sue the European Commission for not approving its plan to declare both sustainable investments.

In a letter, the German government stated that it supports a temporary green label on natural gas to help bridge the path of climate neutrality.

It stated that gas-fired power plants could facilitate the transition to renewable energy and reduce emissions.

Germany and other EU countries argued during months-long debates that the gas investment was necessary to reduce their dependence on more-polluting coal. Other commentators said that it would be detrimental to the EU’s reputation as a leader in the fight against climate change by labeling a fossil fuel green.

The issue of emission-free nuclear power is also controversial. France, Poland and the Czech Republic are all saying that nuclear energy should play a major role in reducing global warming. Austria, Germany, and Luxembourg are all opposed.

The Commission expects to approve a final text before the end the month.