The future of nuclear energy is in the hands of Europe. for nuclear power are crucially required across Europe.

Russian natural gas supplies are being disrupted due to the conflict in Ukraine Energy prices have increased to levels that are emergency.

Some countries suffer from a persistent aftereffects of the Covid-19 pandemic. In France the country, half of nuclear power stations in the country aren't operating.

The primary reasons for this is corrosion and delaying maintenance due to staffing issues linked to pandemics according to Phuc Vinh Nguyen, who is a researcher on European policies on energy at the Jacques Delors Energy Center in France.

Mr Nguyen warns the EU the crisis in energy prices is likely to last for at least 2024.

In this context there are those who see the use for nuclear power reactors an opportunity to separate the natural gas supply from Russian natural gas

At Leibstadt the largest and newest nuclear power plant Leibstadt, the majority of the uranium that is currently used is sourced from Russia. As elsewhere there's a rush to get more uranium outside of the Russian zone of influence.

The background to it is the Russian invasion of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear facility has raised new fears regarding the weaponisation of nuclear research.

Fabian Luscher, who heads the nuclear energy division of the Swiss Energy Foundation (SES) believes that Europe's old nuclear fleet isn't equipped to cope with the latest cyberattacks and terrorist attacks. "You should consider these unlikely scenarios when you are planning your dangerous infrastructure," Mr Luscher argues.

And , then naturally, there's also the issue with nuclear waste.

Angelique Huguin is a member of an activist group that is affiliated to the anti-nuclear protest movement Sortir du nucleaire, who reside close to Cigeo, Cigeo nuclear research lab in northern France.

The group of activists lives in the charming community of Bure in the midst of stone homes with blue shutters.

Ms. Huguin believes that it's unwise to leave the issue of nuclear waste to the next generations. She also considers that nuclear catastrophes in Chernobyl as well as Fukushima have been "evidence that you should end" support for nuclear power.