France proposed to hold a meeting on Tuesday with 12 other European Union countries, including Romania, with the aim of building an alliance of states that will support nuclear energy in the EU’s energy policy, Reuters reports.

The move comes amid a growing row between France and countries that want more EU policies to promote nuclear power as a low-carbon energy source, and the likes of Germany and Spain, which say the form of energy should not be put on the same page. with renewable sources.

The meeting, convened by French Energy Minister Agnes Pannier-Rounachet on the sidelines of a meeting of EU energy ministers in Stockholm, will focus on the contribution of nuclear energy to climate change goals and energy security, a French official said.

The goal is to form a pro-nuclear alliance with other countries before talks with the EU, the official said, without specifying what policy the talks are aimed at.

Participating countries: Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Italy, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Croatia, the Netherlands and Finland, as well as the European Commission.

Dutch Energy Minister Rob Jetten said he welcomed the cooperation, but noted that the Netherlands disagreed with France on some issues, including the Dutch view that the EU should prioritize hydrogen from renewable sources over other forms of energy.

“I think it’s very good that we have a platform with the nuclear countries just to share knowledge and experience,” Jetten told Reuters.

EU countries are responsible for their national energy mixes and have different views on nuclear power.

Countries such as France, Sweden and Hungary already use nuclear power, while Poland wants to build its first reactors.

Austria and Luxembourg oppose the power source, citing concerns about radioactive waste and safety, while others, including Germany, are phasing out their reactors.

Disagreements over how to manage nuclear power have already delayed talks on new EU renewable energy targets after Paris called for consideration of using nuclear hydrogen to meet the targets.

Officials say the dispute is spreading to other policies.

Last week, EU countries failed to agree on diplomatic priorities on climate change amid a row over nuclear power that also threatened a multibillion-euro gas pipeline.