[AFP, Bloomberg, 10 September] French president Nicolas Sarkozy and German chancellor Angela Merkel both expressed a wish for greater energy cooperation between the two countries following informal talks at Meseberg, Germany. Sarkozy said, "France is, of course, ready to collaborate. Margins of progress and cooperation between France and Germany on energy are, of course, in nuclear, once Germany has decided on that issue." He added, "I would like France and Germany to have similar ambitions" in terms of energy policy. Sarkozy said he was speaking of "renewable" energy sources such as wind generators as well as nuclear power. Merkel said, "We would like to see if the cooperation of Siemens and French companies, such as Areva, can be continued." Germany's Siemens holds a 34% stake in Areva's nuclear reactor unit, Areva NP. However, under a 2000 shareholder agreement, state-owned Areva can force Siemens to sell the stake in 2012. Sarkozy has said he wants to bolster Areva and may sell a stake. France's Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), which holds 79% of Areva, said it is willing to sell a stake in Areva to fund the decommissioning of the country's old reactors beyond 2009. The CEA recently told the government that it sees Bouygues, Siemens and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) as potential shareholders in Areva.
Further information
WNA's French Nuclear Power Program information paper
WNA's Nuclear Power in Germany information paper
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