The European Commission’s coming investigation into state aid for EDF’s planned nuclear expansion could result in delays to the programme, Reuters has reported, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter. The European Commission is expected to open an investigation next month over concerns that the proposed state support will reinforce the state-owned French utility’s market dominance, the sources said.
France’s 5th Nuclear Policy Council (CPN – Conseil Politique Nucléaire) earlier in March confirmed the main principles and parameters of the financing and regulatory plan for EDF’s EPR2 programme, which aims to build six new EPR2 reactors, two each at the Penly, Gravelines and Bugey NPPs. Beyond the initial six reactors, the Council officially requested EDF to submit preliminary studies by the end of 2026 for an additional eight EPR2 units. The first reactor at Penly is scheduled for commissioning in 2035-2037.
The subsidised state loan granted to the €72.8bn ($84bn) EPR2 programme for 60% of the total will be financed by the savings fund of the Caisse des Dépôts. These state aid measures were submitted for EC approval in November 2025. EDF was hoping to reach a final investment decision by the end of 2026, once the financing framework is fully validated.
According to Reuters, EU regulators want more time to look into the complex programme. “Brussels is concerned that the six new power plants would further entrench state-owned and dominant energy player EDF’s market share. The company already holds more than 75% of France’s net electricity production, Reuters said. “Bolstering EDF’s market share may distort competition and preclude new players from entering the market, one of the sources said, citing the Commission’s concerns.”
An in-depth EU investigation would also allow the EC to build an ironclad case in the event that Austria’s government – which is opposed to nuclear power – launches a legal challenge against the Commission’s approval of the deal, which some EU officials deem likely, one of the Reuters sources said.
