A cross-party group of 14 MEPs led by Matej Tonin (PPE) has asked the European Commission to clarify how it will fund the construction of fusion demonstration facilities and first-of-a-kind power plants, warning that existing EU instruments are not tailored to the scale of investment needed. In a written parliamentary question dated 2 July 2026, the MEPs from PPE, Renew, Greens/EFA, and ECR call for concrete financing mechanisms such as milestone-based funding or contracts for difference to mobilise public and private capital, and urge the Commission to ensure the EU remains globally competitive in fusion deployment.
The question, which has not yet received a formal reply, comes as European companies plan pilot plants and demonstration projects for the 2030s. The MEPs note that the EU's Clean Energy Investment Strategy highlights the need to de-risk innovative projects but lacks concrete instruments for large-scale fusion infrastructure. They also point to the absence of a dedicated EU Fusion Strategy, which the Commission is expected to present. The MEPs ask three specific questions: whether the Commission will adapt instruments like the Innovation Fund for fusion; whether it plans dedicated risk-sharing mechanisms; and what measures it will take to maintain EU competitiveness. The Commission typically has six weeks to respond, and its answer will signal its policy direction on fusion financing.
European fusion companies would benefit from clearer funding pathways and risk-sharing, potentially accelerating commercialisation. EU taxpayers could face higher upfront costs if public funds are committed, but may gain from long-term energy security and reduced fossil fuel dependence. The European Commission faces pressure to coordinate funding across instruments and member states, balancing innovation support with fiscal discipline. Competing energy technologies (e.g., fission, renewables) may see relative funding shifts if fusion receives dedicated support.