Lion Hirth advises the German and French governments on energy policy

Aiming to give the European Union a new economic boost amid concerns about its faltering status, the German and French governments commissioned independent economists to develop reform proposals for the job market, economic growth, China relations, defence, and energy. Lion Hirth, Professor of Energy Policy at the Hertie School, was one of six experts who provided recommendations in the field of energy policy. The proposals were compiled into a dossier that served as a foundation for discussions at the Franco-German Ministerial Counci meeting on Friday, 30 August 2025.

In the area of energy policy, Hirth and the other experts noted that France and Germany have taken different paths, with France focussing on centralised, state-dominated nuclear energy production, and Germany on a decentralised system focussing on solar and wind power. The experts highlight the need for better coordination, citing risks of security and economic conflicts within Europe. They put forth recommendations including joint participation in auctions for renewable energy procurement, the establishment of a bilateral energy council, joint research programmes, the promotion of hydrogen use, and mutual efforts to address dependencies and security concerns.

The dossier containing the expert recommendations was covered in a news article in the FAZ, which can be read here (in German).

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