French president Emmanuel Macron, whose government is leading a push for more favourable treatment of nuclear energy in EU legislation, said he is hopeful of agreeing a deal that would see reactors recognised in legislation related to the bloc’s green transition.

Macron discussed the handling of nuclear energy with German chancellor Olaf Scholz. Germany is one of several countries opposing French efforts to have nuclear included in multiple legislative files as a technology that can contribute to decarbonisation.

“I think we’ll find an agreement, we’re in the process of finding one on hydrogen and on other topics in order to preserve technological neutrality,” Macron said after the meeting on Friday (24 March).