The decision to reduce nuclear energy's share in EU electricity production was a strategic mistake, given that the bloc is neither an oil nor a gas producer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, Reuters reports.

"This reduction in nuclear energy was a deliberate choice. I believe it was a strategic mistake for Europe to turn away from a reliable and affordable low-emission source of electricity," she said in a speech at a nuclear energy event in Paris.

According to her, in 1990 the European Union generated a third of its electricity from nuclear power, whereas today its share is only around 15%. She added that the EU aims to stimulate the development of small nuclear reactors to make Europe less dependent on imported fossil fuels.

"We are witnessing a global nuclear renaissance. And Europe wants to be part of it," von der Leyen said, announcing €200 million in EU guarantees to stimulate investment in the development of small modular reactors. The funds will come from the EU Emissions Trading System. "We want this new technology to start operating by the early 2030s," she said.