The European energy commissioner, Günther Oettinger, has been recorded suggesting that the EU's state aid rules would need to be 'adapted' or 'bypassed' to make new nuclear viable.
The German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung (paper edition only) obtained a recording of Mr Oettinger speaking in May.
Mr Oettinger is a member of the German Christian Democrat party and the news has emerged shortly before the German election .
Germany is committed to phasing out nuclear power, a move which has widespread public support, and is opposed to state aid for nuclear power in Europe.
Bypass
Speaking about the economics of new nuclear Mr Oettinger said “it will be necessary to carefully bypass or pragmatically adapt [European] state aid rules."
His comments came before draft EU proposals - which could have made it easier for member states to offer support for nuclear - were leaked.
The leaks sparked a backlash in states opposed to nuclear - including senior politicians from Austria and Germany.
Germany voted against (nuclear plants getting subsidies) and I support that," Chancellor Merkel told a news conference in Berlin, when asked about the leaked draft.
The commission insisted that the leaked document did not represent a change in it's position on nuclear support.
Speaking today the spokesperson for the EU's competition commissioner, Joaquin Almunia, said.
“Contrary to media reports, the European Commission has no plans to encourage state aid for nuclear power or to make it easier for member states to grant such aid,”
UK
"Each member state is free to define the role it intends to give (or not to give) to nuclear power in its energy mix.”
Final proposals are not expected to be adopted until 2014.
The mixed messages from Europe are likely to cause confusion in the UK where the government is in protracted negotiations with the French state owned firm EDF over two new nuclear reactors.
The UK's secretary of state, Ed Davey, insisted the UK remains ready to walk away if the deal isn't right.
"EDF has got £1bn invested in Hinkley Point C already - already - before they've got a deal.
"They've got an interest in staying at the table. I can walk away from the table so I think the position we've got ourselves into with those negotiations is a strong position," he said.
