Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared Germany's complete nuclear phase-out a "huge mistake" that has strained the economy. Speaking to industry leaders, he argued the country lacks sufficient energy generation capacity and now relies on costly state subsidies to keep prices acceptable.

The policy, accelerated after the 2011 Fukushima disaster, concluded in April 2023 when the last reactors were permanently shut down. Merz contends the decision, part of the Energiewende transition, has made Germany's shift to renewables the most expensive and complex in the world.

Restarting the shuttered plants is widely considered unfeasible. Reactors are de-fuelled and partially dismantled, requiring massive investment and new approvals. With public opposition strong and renewables heavily invested in, a nuclear revival faces significant economic and regulatory hurdles.