Chernobyl caused immediate and negative political reactions in Europe

The Chernobyl accident had a considerable negative impact on the adoption of nuclear energy in Europe.

In Germany (30% nuclear electricity in 1986), the Social Democratic Party voted in favor of an exit from nuclear energy over 10 years. It implemented this policy in a coalition with the Green Party (Grünen) starting in 1998. [1]

The Italian electrical utility ENEL canceled an 8,000 MW program for new nuclear capacity, as well as its participation in a tri-national fast neutron reactor project.

After protests in Switzerland, the reactor project at Kaiseraugst was postponed (formally abandoned in 1988). In 1990, the population approved a 10-year moratorium on new reactors (which is still in effect as of April 2026). [3]

In Finland, electrical utility TVO withdrew its request to build a 5th nuclear reactor.

In Sweden, which was required to shut down its 12 reactors before 2010 (law passed in 1980), the parliament advanced the date of closure of the first two reactors from 2010 to 1995-96 (they closed in 1999 and 2005 in the end). [4]

Reactions in the Soviet bloc were more mixed. However, Poland postponed (1986) and then canceled (1990) a goal of 5,000 MW nuclear capacity by 2000, partly because of strong opposition around the Zarnowiec site, where the first 2 units were under construction. [5]

As for the USSR, it continued to promote nuclear power, but projects were stagnating. At the end of 1986, it reported to the IAEA that it had 50 reactors in operation and 32 under construction. At the end of 1992, the IAEA counted 43 reactors in operation and 25 under construction in the former Soviet countries (Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania) [6]. Today, nuclear capacity in Russia and Ukraine totals 42 GW (53 reactors), compared to pre-accident forecasts of 200 GW by the year 2000.

In the United States, which was not affected by the fallout of Chernobyl, other factors prevented the development of nuclear power, including the TMI accident in 1979 (core melt, but no health or environmental impact in the long term). Only three new nuclear units have been connected to the US grid since 1986.

In the international collective consciousness, Chernobyl remains the reference of a major accident.