Britain on Tuesday backed France’s push to put nuclear power at the heart of Europe’s clean energy revolution.
UK minister Andrew Bowie said atomic energy “has a crucial role to play” as Britain joined a 16-member “nuclear alliance” in Paris.
Members of the alliance said the UK could "positively impact the EU supply chain" as they aim for a 50 per cent increase in nuclear capacity by 2050.
The group is lobbying for fission to be included in green energy plans across Europe.
They are opposed by a club of anti-nuclear countries such as Austria and Germany, who want to focus on renewables such as wind and solar.
Nuclear power “is absolutely indispensable if we want to reach our climate ambitions,” said France’s Ecology Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher.
At the talks on pooling efforts to build more reactors, she said she was delighted to welcome the UK as “a country that is re-engaging” with nuclear power.
French energy company EDF is building two reactors at Hinkley Point C in south-west England, set to provide the UK’s first new nuclear capacity in more than 20 years.
Another two reactors are proposed for the Sizewell C site on Britain’s east coast.
Mr Bowie, the UK minister responsible for atomic energy, reported “very positive” talks with French officials overseeing new nuclear projects.
“As two of the first nuclear powers, between us we are set to co-operate even more closely as we develop and invest in new nuclear projects,” he said.
“Able to run day and night, nuclear has a crucial role to play in strengthening Britain, and Europe's energy security, while boosting our economies and jobs.”
The UK-France talks come amid a wider rapprochement between London and Paris following a revised Brexit deal in February.
France is one of the world’s biggest atomic energy generators and gets almost two thirds of its electricity from nuclear.
Its nuclear grid was plagued by maintenance problems last year that exacerbated an energy squeeze in Europe.
But President Emmanuel Macron is backing a nuclear “renaissance” to boost Europe’s energy independence after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Britain and France are both interested in next-generation miniature nuclear reactors touted as a possible power source for factories or remote islands.
Finland last month began operating Europe’s first new nuclear plant in 16 years in a move credited with slashing electricity prices, while Belgium has delayed a nuclear phase-out by 10 years.
At EU level, pro-nuclear countries recently won a carve-out from Europe-wide renewable energy targets.
It means their targets will be less steep if they make hydrogen by means other than fossil fuels, meaning nuclear.
However, the momentum for nuclear has not extended to Germany, which switched off its last three reactors last month, or Austria, which is leading the charge against fission’s inclusion in EU climate plans.
Nuclear power’s opponents say it takes too long to build, comes with unacceptable safety and environmental hazards and is not renewable because uranium must be sourced from countries such as Russia that have it.
“Every euro invested in new nuclear will not be invested in the energy transition,” Pauline Boyer, a campaigner at Greenpeace France, said as ministers met in Paris on Tuesday.
“France, like Europe, must make a big shift towards restraint and energy efficiency, and the massive development of renewable energies to move away from fossil fuels.”
Supporters of nuclear say it operates under high safety standards and is reliable in any weather.
Ms Pannier-Runacher said 90 per cent of France’s nuclear sub-contractors were from Europe.
“It is an energy that is totally sovereign in Europe, unlike many other energy sources. For example, I think we depend on China for photovoltaic panels,” she told French television.
Scorebox
Sharjah Wanderers 20-25 Dubai Tigers (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries Gormley, Penalty
Cons Flaherty
Pens Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons Caldwell 2
Pens Caldwell, Cross
How it works
A $10 hand-powered LED light and battery bank
Device is operated by hand cranking it at any time during the day or night
The charge is stored inside a battery
The ratio is that for every minute you crank, it provides 10 minutes light on the brightest mode
A full hand wound charge is of 16.5minutes
This gives 1.1 hours of light on high mode or 2.5 hours of light on low mode
When more light is needed, it can be recharged by winding again
The larger version costs between $18-20 and generates more than 15 hours of light with a 45-minute charge
No limit on how many times you can charge
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
