222 Million Euros for a Mirage. Why the EU’s Fusion Push Is Industrial Policy Masquerading as Energy Strategy

The European Commission just dropped €222 million on nuclear fusion, and if you believe this is about clean energy, Brussels has a bridge to sell you. With the unveiling of the 2026-2027 Euratom work programme, the EU is rebranding fusion—a technology that has been “20 years away” for the last half-century—as the new frontier of European industrial policy. The timing is not coincidental. This isn’t about physics; it’s about politics, fear of being left behind, and the desperate need to look like a leader in a race where Europe is already lagging. The Commission’s rhetoric is grandiose: fusion will “revolutionise Europe’s energy landscape.” The money, they say, will help move fusion from laboratories to the power grid. But let’s be honest—€222 million is pocket change for a technology that has consumed billions globally with no commercial payoff. The real purpose of this announcement is to create the illusion of momentum. Brussels is terrified of missing yet another technological boat, having watched Europe excel at research only to cede manufacturing and deployment to China, the US, and others. The new “public-private partnership” sounds nice, but it’s a classic EU move: talk big about supply chains and start-ups while ignoring the fundamental [...]

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