Germany and France have agreed to settle long-standing disagreements over nuclear energy after ministers from both countries met for joint consultations in the southern French port of Toulon on Friday, TASR reported, citing reports from the DPA and AFP agencies.

Under the framework agreement, both countries will promote a common approach at the European level to achieve equal treatment of low-carbon energy sources, including nuclear energy.

International energy agreements

Although both sides have adopted different strategies in the field of energy policy, with Paris currently expanding its nuclear capacity while Berlin has closed its nuclear power plants, these countries intend not to hinder each other in this sphere, but on the contrary, to support each other, DPA notes.

For example, Germany will drop its opposition to the use of nuclear energy in France, which is seeking EU funding for research projects to develop new, smaller reactors. In turn, the German government has secured French support for the development of hydrogen interconnections to southwestern Europe and stronger integration of electricity grids between the two countries.

Common security challenges

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron also attended the talks.

The two countries also added that France - the only nuclear power in the EU - and Germany should open a"strategic dialogue" on nuclear deterrence in the context of shared security challenges. They described nuclear deterrence as a"cornerstone" of NATO's security.