German MEP Anja Arndt (ESN) has asked the European Commission to disclose all contacts, meetings and formal exchanges with companies or organisations linked to Bill Gates — specifically TerraPower, Breakthrough Energy and their associated funds or alliances — regarding Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The question, submitted on 28 April 2026, targets the transparency rules applied to such interactions, including lobby register entries, meeting disclosures and conflict-of-interest safeguards, and demands that citizens be told where they can consult this information.
The written parliamentary question, filed under Rule 144 of the European Parliament's rules of procedure, is a formal instrument that allows an MEP to request information from the Commission. It does not contain numerical targets or deadlines, but its concrete asks — a full list of contacts, applicable transparency rules and public access points — signal a demand for accountability rather than a general policy statement.
Policy orientation Arndt's question reflects a sceptical stance toward the influence of private, well-funded actors on EU energy policy. By singling out Bill Gates' entities, she implies that the Commission's engagement with SMR technology may be shaped by non-transparent, possibly privileged, access. The question does not oppose SMRs outright but presses for openness, suggesting that the MEP views current transparency arrangements as insufficient.
Expected follow-up The Commission is required to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will indicate whether it maintains a register of such contacts, how it manages potential conflicts of interest, and whether it considers the existing transparency framework adequate. The response will also signal the Commission's willingness to engage with private foundations in the nuclear energy sector and its broader stance on SMR development in the EU.
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