DECOMMISSIONING OF NUCLEAR PLANTS : COURT OF AUDITORS CRITICISES MANAGEMENT OF EU AID.

As one of the conditions of their accession to the EU, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia had committed themselves to the early closure and subsequent decommissioning of eight non-upgradeable nuclear reactors in a drive to improve nuclear safety, but hardly any progress has been made in the decommissioning of the plants, according to a report published this week by the EU Court of Auditors.

Not only these three member states but also the European Commission has come in for fierce criticism in the report, EU financial assistance for the decommissioning of nuclear plants in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia', published on 8 February(1).

There has been a significant lack of progress regarding impact and needs assessments, programming coordination and the defining of precise objectives and a working calendar. The three countries are now requesting for the continuation of EU funding. While the court has not refused this, it has recommended that, before providing further funding, the Commission should establish a detailed needs assessment showing the progress of programmes, as well as activities yet to be carried out and an overall financing plan identifying funding sources.

Recognising the social, economic and financial burdens incurred by the new' member states in taking on this commitment, the EU awarded them a total of 2.850 billion of aid for the period 1999-2013. By 31 December 2010, the Commission had deployed more than 70% of this funding (2.066 billion), of which 1.03 billion had been paid out: 60% for decommissioning measures and 40% for attenuation measures (energy efficiency, conventional power plants).

Presenting the ECA report to the press, on 8 February, Szabolcs Fazakas emphasised that the three countries had respected their commitment to close the eight reactors concerned: Kozloduy (Bulgaria), Units 1, 2, 3 and 4; Ignalina (Lithuania), Units 1 and 2; and Bohunice V1 (Slovakia), Units 1 and 2. Nonetheless, while certain important steps have indeed been taken with regard to decommissioning, the main process has yet to be undertaken, and the completion of this procedure is...