Energy transition: a new opportunity for the French-German cooperation

As France and Germany are both defining new energy policies, but in different ways (Germany has focused on a reform of the law on renewable energies, and France aims at a reduction of the nuclear share from 75 to 50 per cent by 2025), the author examines whether the French strategy is realistic and how it can be explained from a political point of view, how energy transition can be successfully implemented, and to what extent it may influence the German policy within the framework of present discussions on the EU energy-climate package and of bilateral cooperation. The author first outlines the powerful role of nuclear energy in the history of French energy policy, proposes a brief overview of the evolution of debates in France on energy policy from the beginning of the 2000's, indicates and discusses the main objectives of the present bill project on energy transition, and proposes a comparison of French and German objectives regarding energy transition by 2020, 2030 and 2050. He evokes some practical aspects (discussion about Fessenheim plant shutting down, issues of energy prices). He comments the planned implementation of a new economic model based on a green growth, discusses the issue of energy transition in the electricity sector and in the transport sector, and the relationship between energy transition and decentralisation. Perspectives are briefly discussed regarding the credibility of the French policy and the commitment of both countries in energy transition