Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Slovakia nuclear plants must improve - EU warns

[News_Editor]

Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Slovakia nuclear plants must improve - EU warns

2011-04-05 19:16:24 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- Old nuclear power plants in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia, which function under decommissioning programs, were criticized in a European Parliament resolution on Tuesday for having a lack of coordination, delays, and too much money going to unrelated energy projects.

Lithuania, Slovakia and Bulgaria currently receive European Union (EU) funds for managing the decommissioning of the three old power plants, but the resolution evaluated the way funds were used in the period 2007-2013 and called for these programs to be improved if the EU is to continue its support. In addition, it represented Parliament's input into plans to extend the programs after 2013.

Members of the Parliament also expressed concern regarding the plants' delays and the general lack of coordination, asking the European Commission to set up a coordination team to supervise the plans, the timetable and the use of money to determine if there is a further need for an EU role and to decide on responsibilities within the programs.

Furthermore, the European Court of Auditors will be compiling a special report on the three decommissioning programs, to be published this autumn.

Parliament is asking the Court to say if the funds were used as intended, if public procurement procedures were respected, if the money spent led to better safety, if the EU anti-fraud agency OLAF has been involved and whether there has been enough coordination between the programs.

During the current long term budget framework (2007-2013), EU aid is estimated to be €1.37 billion ($1.94 billion) for Ignalina (Lithuania), €613 million ($869 million) for Bohunice (Slovakia) and €868 million ($1.23 billion) for Kozloduy (Bulgaria).

The programs consist of measures in the areas of decommissioning, such as waste treatment and fuel decontamination, energy (improving energy supply and upgrading infrastructure) and social consequences (safety support for plant personnel and re-training of staff).

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