U.S. Mission to the EU
Press Release
Brussels, June 30, 2020
On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Mission to the European Union hosted a virtual roundtable on small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) where high-level representatives from the European Commission as well as the U.S. government and U.S. industry discussed the future of SMR deployment in Europe and priorities in transatlantic cooperation.
Ambassador Gidwitz announced the launch of the Small Modular Reactor Public-Private Program, which we hope will be an engine for private sector engagement. “Investment in SMR and advanced reactor technologies promises not only a source of reliable, affordable, and zero carbon clean energy, but also a way to increase Europe’s energy security through the diversification of its energy sources,” said Ambassador Gidwitz.
The SMR Public-Private Program builds on the successful October 2019 U.S.–EU High-Level Forum on SMRs held under the auspices of the U.S.-EU Energy Council and will be led by the U.S. Department of Commerce, in collaboration with U.S. Mission to the EU, U.S. Departments of Energy and State, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and other key U.S. agencies.
During the roundtable, Todd Abrajano, U.S. Trade and Development Agency’s Acting Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, announced U.S. government funding for a six-part workshop series across two years on SMR standards and regulations that support the objectives of the Small Modular Reactor Public Private Program in Europe. The workshop series, expected to commence in Fall 2020, will invite U.S. and European experts and representatives from government and industry to collaborate on SMR regulations and standards.