MEP Anja Arndt (ESN) has asked the European Commission to assess potential conflicts of interest if private investors, including philanthropists linked to the NGO Breakthrough Energy or the company TerraPower, receive EU funds for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) while simultaneously supporting policy advice, project funding, and public outreach on the same technology.
The written question, submitted on 28 April 2026 under Rule 144, targets the Commission's view on whether such dual roles — private funding and policy influence — could compromise the integrity of EU decision-making. Arndt specifically points to the involvement of Breakthrough Energy, a network founded by Bill Gates, and TerraPower, a nuclear innovation company backed by Gates, which are both active in SMR development and advocacy.
Concrete asks and policy orientation
The question does not set numerical targets or deadlines but requests a clear legal and ethical assessment from the Commission. It implies concern over undue influence by private actors in EU energy policy, particularly as the bloc accelerates its push for SMRs as part of the clean energy transition. The MEP's framing suggests a preference for stricter transparency and separation between private funding and policy shaping.
Expected follow-up
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether it sees a need for new conflict-of-interest rules or considers existing safeguards sufficient. The response could also indicate the Commission's stance on the role of philanthropic and private capital in EU-funded nuclear projects, a topic that touches on broader debates about public-private partnerships in strategic technologies.
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