France's nuclear stance causes rift in EU's renewable energy plans.
EU countries have accused France of taking the Renewable Energy Directive "hostage" to extract further concessions, including on nuclear energy. Negotiators reached a provisional deal in March, but France threatened to torpedo the legislation unless it recognized some role for atomic energy. Sweden, which holds the rotating Council presidency, was forced to strike a discussion on the text from Wednesday's meeting of ambassadors to avoid a dramatic derailing of the legislation. France is asking for its industrial production of ammonia to be partially exempted from meeting green hydrogen targets, according to three diplomats.