Europe's fusion lead at risk without EU strategy warn CEOs

In an open letter against the background of the latest Middle East conflict created energy crisis, the fusion leaders call for a shift from short term solutions to a long-term plan that delivers energy security, with fusion having the potential to fundamentally reshape how Europe produces and secures energy. 

Fusion is no longer a distant dream, they state. Sites for fusion power plants have already been identified in Germany, the UK and Sweden. The US, China, Japan and Canada are scaling up public support and private investment.  

Europe now faces a strategic choice: stay among the leaders of this transition or continue to depend on technologies and value chains developed elsewhere. 

To this end, the fusion strategy must recognise fusion as a strategic priority for Europe’s competitiveness, energy security and net zero objectives. 

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It must be ambitious, technology‑neutral and outcome-oriented and must prioritise milestone‑based funding that incentivises private investment and rewards progress and performance. 

It also must set out concrete steps to integrate fusion into existing EU regulatory frameworks, distinct from fission due to the lower risk profile, and must strengthen, adapt and expand European supply chains and workforce capabilities, ensuring that value creation remains in Europe. 

The letter adds that the world is watching how Europe positions itself in this defining technological race, and whether it has the courage to set the right incentives and signals to enable the emergence of commercial fusion power plants in the 2030s.  

Europe has one chance to set the trajectory – and it must seize it. Europe’s industrial base is ready to support commercial fusion, and there is broad alignment across the ecosystem on the need for a clear and ambitious strategy. 

Alongside the strategy must be an action plan that commits budget, mobilises capital and sets a favourable and predictable regulatory pathway to make commercial fusion happen. 

The open letter was signed by representatives from companies including Renaissance Fusion, Focused Energy, Marvel Fusion, Proxima Fusion, Novatron Fusion, Gauss Fusion, NINEFusion, DWE, RI Research Instruments, Fusion Europe, the Fusion Industry Association and the German fusion industry association ProFusion. 

EU on fusion

The need for a fusion strategy was identified in the 2024 Draghi competitiveness report and commitment to its delivery was made in the February 2025 affordable energy action plan, including the creation of a public private partnership to accelerate commercialisation. 

The plan also included a commitment to foster investment in fusion among other next-generation clean energy technologies. 

This was followed in June 2025 with a four-week call for evidence with the outline of the proposed strategy including identifying actions to take full advantage of the EU’s role in the ITER project, formulating a pathway to a pilot fusion power plant, building a competitive industrial ecosystem, developing the workforce and developing the European fusion supply chain. 

A regulatory framework for fusion facilities within the EU also is planned along with strengthened international collaborations and a governance and decision-making process at the EU level. 

The indicative timeline for the strategy was December 2025, which is now obviously well past. But just days before the release of the open letter, energy and housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen on a visit to Fusion for Energy, which is managing the EU’s contribution to ITER, confirmed the strategy is currently in preparation. 

On that occasion, Jørgensen was quoted as reaffirming the European Commission’s commitment to keeping Europe at the forefront of the fusion race, saying: “Fusion energy will be part of the solution to major challenges like energy security, competitiveness and climate change.”