Europe's SMR Action Plan: From Strategy to Delivery

The Strategic Action Plan of the European Industrial Alliance on SMRs, adopted earlier this month, is a milestone for Europe’s energy and industrial policy. For the first time, Europe’s nuclear sector has a common roadmap with ten targeted actions over the next five years, from financing frameworks and pilot projects to skills, R&D, and standards. This is a strong signal that SMRs are being treated not just as a technological curiosity, but as part of Europe’s industrial and strategic future.

As CFE argued in its recent article on nuclear’s role in Europe’s energy transition, "Europe’s industrial competitiveness depends on investing in a full suite of clean technologies — nuclear included." The SMR Action Plan aligns with that approach, emphasising the role of nuclear in both decarbonisation and strategic autonomy.

Timelines and delivery

The Plan sets out critical steps, with major deliverables on financing and supply chains due by 2026. That is welcome clarity. But as we noted, "as of 2025, China and Russia are the only countries with operational SMRs, though 80 reactor designs are in development across 19 countries." To ensure deployment by the early 2030s, Europe will need to move faster on regulatory alignment and project financing, otherwise competitors will consolidate their lead.

Industrial strategy and competitiveness

The Plan’s connection to the recently endorsed IPCEI on innovative nuclear technologies is encouraging. As we highlighted, "by fostering innovation and scaling up domestic nuclear capacity, particularly through the development of SMRs, the EU can avoid overreliance on U.S. or Chinese suppliers." Positioning SMRs within the broader Clean Industrial Deal and Competitiveness Compass would ensure Europe treats them as a strategic export technology as well as a domestic solution.

Complementarity with large reactors

While the Plan rightly prioritises SMRs, Europe must not overlook its existing nuclear assets. Our analysis stressed that "large nuclear reactors will continue to play a significant role in decarbonisation efforts until 2040 at least." Lifetime extensions, restarts, and new builds remain indispensable; SMRs should be seen as complementary rather than a replacement in the near term.

Tech-inclusive policy in practice

CFE’s central argument is that “Europe must pursue a tech-inclusive approach to decarbonisation” . Nuclear is now explicitly recognised under the NZIA, but access to EU and EIB financing still lags compared with renewables and hydrogen. To make the Action Plan a success, nuclear must receive genuinely equal treatment across EU funding programmes.

Conclusion

The SMR Action Plan is more than just a roadmap. It signals that Europe is starting to turn the principle of technological inclusivity into practical action. If implemented with urgency, the Plan can help ensure that by the early 2030s SMRs are not only part of Europe’s energy mix, but also a catalyst for competitiveness, energy security, and industrial leadership.