Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION on the implementation of Protocol No 4 on the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania, as annexed to the Act concerning the conditions of accession to the European Union of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia "Ignalina Programme"

(submitted by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1. Introduction

The production of nuclear power mobilises considerable financial and material resources over long periods of time and is strictly regulated. Since installations were first brought into service, operators in this sector and the regulatory authorities alike have been worried what will become of them once production ceases.

In practice, the final shutdown of a nuclear installation marks the start of a new phase with the objective of lifting the radiological protection restrictions imposed while it was in operation. These restrictions are due to the presence of radioactive materials in the form of structural materials, equipment, operational waste and spent fuel.

It is necessary to remove these materials and to subject them to the treatment appropriate to their physical characteristics and their levels of radioactivity in accordance with the safety standards in force. All of these activities are covered by the concept of decommissioning. Decommissioning operations extend over an extremely long period. For obvious safety reasons, it is necessary to wait in order to take account of the fall in radioactivity of the materials to be treated. It must be added that decommissioning continues until the site has been fully restored. Final shutdown of nuclear capacity also creates a need to address the non-nuclear consequences, such as maintaining production capacity to safeguard security of supply.

2. The situation in Lithuania and Slovakia

The decommissioning of a nuclear installation involves the commitment of considerable sums of money. The estimates for a nuclear reactor are around 15% of the total investment cost. The Member States of the European Union which use nuclear energy to produce their electricity have put systems in place, which differ from one Member State to another, to ensure that the necessary funding for the decommissioning of nuclear installations is available.

However, Lithuania and Slovakia put such systems in place only relatively recently considering their inherited liabilities. The funding they have provided for is not enough to cover the decommissioning of their reactors.

This situation called for Community solidarity in response: these two countries have nuclear reactors for which early shutdown commitments were negotiated at the time of accession and included in the Act of Accession that entered into force on 1 May 2004.

3. Early shutdown commitments and their financial consequences

During the accession negotiations, Lithuania committed to closure of Unit 1 of the Ignalina nuclear power plant before 2005 and of Unit 2 by 31 December 2009 at the latest. These closure commitments were included in Protocol No 4 to the Act concerning the conditions of accession to the European Union of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

The Protocol provides, inter alia, for Community support under the Ignalina Programme to be seamlessly continued and extended, including throughout the period of the next Financial Perspectives. The support covers the decommissioning process and its non-nuclear consequences.

The study funded under Phare (carried out by the consortium NIS/SGN/SKB and confirmed by other international studies) estimates the costs of decommissioning Units 1 and 2 of the Ignalina nuclear power plant (type RBMK 1500) at about EUR1 billion (at 2000 prices) for all operations, including waste treatment, but excluding the final disposal of spent fuel. The figures presented by the Lithuanian authorities have always been higher. The non-nuclear costs arising from decommissioning must be added (for example, for replacement of production capacity and measures related to security of supply).

Given the considerable funding needed for the decommissioning of these installations, the European Union has also accepted that, for the period covered by the next Financial Perspectives, the overall appropriations should be appropriate [1] and the programming of these resources should be based on actual payment needs and absorption capacity.

[1] See Article 3(4) of Protocol No 4.

Slovakia, for its part, has committed to the closure of Unit 1 of the Bohunice nuclear power plant by 31 December 2006 and of Unit 2 by 31 December 2008 at the latest. The cost of decommissioning these two units (known as Bohunice VI, with type VVER 440/230 reactors) is estimated at EUR750 million (at 2000 prices), including the final disposal of spent fuel. It is important to emphasise that the Slovak authorities have committed to topping up the funding needed for decommissioning.

The European Union has already established specific assistance programmes. In the framework of the Phare programme, a contribution of EUR210 million has been earmarked for Lithuania and EUR150 million for Slovakia up to 2003. For the period 2004-2006, under Protocols No 4 and No 9 to the Act of Accession, EUR285 million has been earmarked to support decommissioning and the consequences at Ignalina and EUR90 million for Bohunice.

The Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament of 14 July 2004 "Financial Perspectives 2007-2013" [2] states that a specific budget line will be created under Heading 1A. It will receive adequate appropriations from two sources:

[2] COM(2004) 487.

- amounts available from Heading 1A, other than those earmarked for education, research, social policy and the trans-European networks, up to EUR80 million a year;

- the Growth Adjustment Fund to make up the balance.

The Commission Communication recalls the commitments given by the European Union at the time of enlargement and states that a specific proposal on the Union's contribution to the decommissioning of nuclear power plants will be made by the Commission in September 2004. It specifies that this decision "will be based on the objective analysis of the financial needs and the time profile of the associated disbursements for each nuclear plant to be decommissioned, taking as the starting point the current expenditures already financed for the years 2004-2006".

On the basis of the above estimates of financial needs and the absorption capacity evaluated in the light of the assistance given during the current period, the Commission estimates that a total Community contribution of EUR1.052 billion will enable the European Union to meet its commitments for the period 2007-2013.

The purpose of these two proposals for regulations is to establish the legal framework to enable Community support to be provided from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013.

The non-indexed, annual forecasts based on the amounts committed for the period 2004-2006 are estimated to be in the order of:

- EUR103 million for Ignalina 1 and 2;

- EUR30 million for Bohunice 1 and 2.

The funding may be made available as a Community contribution to the international decommissioning support funds administered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The measures financed by this support must obviously cover the technical operations involved in the decommissioning of nuclear installations. However, the plan is not to limit them to the technical aspects alone, but also to take account of the non-nuclear consequences of decommissioning.

The closure of nuclear reactors obviously affects the security of energy supply of the countries concerned but may also affect that of the European Union. The electricity-generating capacity which will disappear is not negligible. Replacement capacity therefore has to be put in place.

It is also fundamental, for nuclear safety reasons, to support Lithuania's efforts to keep highly qualified plant maintenance teams in place, as far as possible, for decommissioning purposes.

4. Legal basis

Each of the two countries is a particular case with different legal frameworks. The case of Lithuania is no doubt easier to understand since Protocol No 4 to the Act of Accession is particularly clear. Article 3(2) of the Protocol states that the "implementing provisions for the extended Ignalina Programme shall be decided in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 56 of the Act of Accession". That Article provides that, unless otherwise stipulated, the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, will adopt the necessary measures to implement, in this case, the financial contribution for the decommissioning of Ignalina. Protocol No 4 therefore provides a specific legal basis.

In the case of Slovakia, Protocol No 9 to the Act of Accession refers only to the Phare programme, which is due to expire and therefore cannot cover the period after 2006. The Protocol mentions the need to continue financing beyond 2006 but does not provide a specific legal basis as in the case of Lithuania. The Act of Accession and Protocol No 9 cannot constitute an appropriate legal basis for putting financing in place in the framework of the next Financial Perspectives. The only appropriate legal basis therefore seems to be Article 203 of the Euratom Treaty. That Article provides that "if action by the Community should prove necessary to attain one of the objectives of the Community, and this Treaty has not provided the necessary powers, the Council shall, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament, take the appropriate measures".

It should be stressed that Bulgaria also has four reactors which are the subject of an early closure commitment. Units 1 and 2 of the Kozloduy power plant were closed at the end of 2003, and Units 3 and 4 are due to be closed in 2006. As in the cases of Lithuania and Slovakia, a draft Protocol to the Act of Accession of Bulgaria, negotiated in the course of the accession talks, provides that financing will be given for two years following its accession, i.e. until 2009, in order to support the decommissioning of Units 1 to 4 at the Kozloduy power plant. As there are no plans to provide funding beyond 2009 it does not seem necessary to adopt a regulation at this stage. For 2007-2009, an amount in the order of EUR70 million a year is planned (a total of EUR210 million).

5. Conclusion

The financing of the decommissioning of nuclear installations covered by early closure commitments was a very important subject during the discussions for enlargement of the European Union. The States concerned have agreed to shut down certain reactors. For its part, the European Union has expressed its solidarity by granting financial assistance to support decommissioning. The Union has already fulfilled its commitments for the period 2004-2006. As provided for in the Act of Accession, it is now necessary to establish the instruments required to enable it to fulfil its obligations in the context of the next Financial Perspectives for the period 2007-2013.

In the light of the foregoing, the Council is asked to adopt the two attached proposals for regulations.

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION on the implementation of Protocol No 4 on the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania, as annexed to the Act concerning the conditions of accession to the European Union of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia "Ignalina Programme"

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Act concerning the conditions of accession to the European Union of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia, and in particular Article 56 thereof and Protocol No 4 thereto,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, and in particular Article 110 thereof,

Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, [3] and in particular Article 166 thereof,

[3] OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1.

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, [4]

[4] OJ C [...], [...], p. [...].

Whereas:

(1) The Union has committed to continue to provide adequate additional Community assistance to Lithuania's effort to decommission the Ignalina nuclear power plant also after Lithuania's accession to the European Union for the period until 2006 and beyond. This commitment was made formally in Protocol No 4 on the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania, as annexed to the 2003 Act of Accession.

(2) Bearing in mind this expression of Union solidarity, Lithuania has committed to close Unit 1 of the Ignalina nuclear power plant before 2005 and Unit 2 by 2009 and to subsequent decommissioning of these units. An assistance programme with a budget of EUR285 million has been put in place to cover the period 2004-2006.

(3) The decommissioning of the Ignalina nuclear power plant with two 1500 MW RBMK-type reactors inherited from the former Soviet Union is of an unprecedented nature and represents an exceptional financial burden for Lithuania not commensurate with the size and economic strength of the country. This decommissioning will continue beyond the Community's current Financial Perspectives.

(4) Article 3 of Protocol No 4 states that the Ignalina Programme for 2004-2006 will be seamlessly continued and extended beyond 2006 in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 56 of the Act of Accession; this extended programme will be based on the same elements and principles as the 2004-2006 programme.

(5) It is therefore necessary to adopt rules for implementation of the additional Community assistance for the period 2007-2013 to address the consequences of the closure and decommissioning of the Ignalina nuclear power plant.

(6) Article 3(4) of Protocol No 4 states that for the period of the next Financial Perspectives, the overall average appropriations under the extended Ignalina Programme shall be appropriate. Programming of these resources will be based on actual payment needs and absorption capacity.

(7) International decommissioning funds managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development have been in place for a number of years. Through the Phare programme in particular, the Community is the main contributor to these funds.

(8) Consequently, provision should be made for a sum of EUR815 million from the Community budget to fund the decommissioning of the Ignalina nuclear power plant over the period from 2007 to 2013.

(9) The financial assistance may continue to be made available as a Community contribution to the Ignalina International Decommissioning Support Fund managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

(10) The Ignalina Programme also includes measures to support plant personnel in maintaining a high level of operational safety at the Ignalina nuclear power plant in the periods prior to the closure and during the decommissioning of the reactor units.

(11) The tasks of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development include managing the public funds allocated to the programmes for decommissioning nuclear power plants and monitoring the financial management of these programmes so as to optimise the use of public money. In addition, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development carries out the budget tasks entrusted to it by the Commission in line with the requirements of Article 53(7) of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities. [5]

[5] OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.

(12) The decommissioning of the Ignalina nuclear power plant will be carried out in line with the legislation on the environment, particularly Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment.

(13) A financial reference amount, within the meaning of Point 34 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure, is inserted in this Regulation for the entire duration of the programme, without prejudice to the powers of the budgetary authority as defined by the Treaty.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

This Regulation lays down detailed rules for implementation over the period 2007-2013 of Protocol No 4 on the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania, as annexed to the Act concerning the conditions of accession to the European Union of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

These rules shall ensure that the Ignalina Programme will be seamlessly continued and extended, in accordance with Article 3 of Protocol No 4.

Article 2

The Ignalina Programme shall cover, in particular, measures to support the decommissioning of the Ignalina nuclear power plant, measures for environmental upgrading in line with the acquis and for modernising conventional production capacity to replace the production capacity of the two reactors at the Ignalina plant and other measures which stem from the decision to close and decommission this plant and which contribute to the necessary restructuring, upgrading of the environment and modernisation of the energy production, transmission and distribution sectors in Lithuania as well as to enhancing security of supply and energy efficiency in Lithuania.

The Ignalina Programme shall also include measures to support plant personnel in maintaining a high level of operational safety at the Ignalina nuclear power plant in the periods prior to the closure and during the decommissioning of the reactor units.

Article 3

The amount necessary for implementation of the action provided for in Article 2 for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013 shall be EUR815 million.

The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budget authority within the limits of the Financial Perspectives.

The amount of the appropriations allocated to the Ignalina Programme may be reviewed in the course of the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013 to take account of the progress made with implementation of the programme and ensure that the programming and allocation of the resources are based on actual payment needs and absorption capacity.

Article 4

The contribution under the Ignalina Programme may, for certain measures, amount to up to 100% of the total expenditure. Every effort shall be made to continue the co-financing practice established under the pre-accession assistance and the assistance given over the period 2004-2006 for Lithuania's decommissioning effort as well as to attract co-financing from other sources, as appropriate.

Article 5

The assistance provided for in the first paragraph of Article 2 under the Ignalina Programme may be made available as a Community contribution to the Ignalina International Decommissioning Support Fund managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The assistance under the Ignalina Programme shall also cover measures to support plant personnel in maintaining a high level of operational safety at the Ignalina nuclear power plant in the periods prior to the closure and during the decommissioning of the reactor units.

Article 6

Public aid from national, Community and international sources for:

environmental upgrading in line with the acquis and measures to modernise the Elektrenai thermal power plant in Lithuania as the key replacement for the production capacity of the two reactors at the Ignalina nuclear power plant; decommissioning the Ignalina nuclear power plant

shall be compatible with the rules concerning the internal market, as defined in the EC Treaty.

Public aid from national, Community and international sources in support of Lithuania's efforts to address the consequences of the closure and of the decommissioning of the Ignalina nuclear power plant may, on a case by case basis, be considered to be compatible with the EC Treaty rules concerning the internal market, in particular public aid for enhancing the security of energy supply.

Article 7

Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 1 of Protocol No 4 to the Act of Accession, the safeguard clause referred to in Article 37 of the Act of Accession shall apply until 31 December 2012 if energy supply is disrupted in Lithuania.

Article 8

The Commission may have an audit of the use made of the assistance carried out either directly by its own staff or by any other qualified outside body of its choice. Such audits may be carried out throughout the lifetime of the agreement and for a period of five years from the date of payment of the balance. Where appropriate, the audit findings may lead to recovery decisions by the Commission.

Commission staff and outside personnel authorised by the Commission shall have appropriate right of access, particularly to the beneficiary's offices and to all the information, including information in electronic format, needed in order to conduct such audits.

The Court of Auditors shall enjoy the same rights, especially of access, as the Commission.

Furthermore, in order to protect the European Community's financial interests against fraud and other irregularities, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out on-the-spot checks and inspections under this programme in accordance with Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96. [6]

[6] OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2.

For the Community action financed under this Regulation, the term irregularity in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 shall mean any infringement of a provision of Community law or any breach of a contractual obligation resulting from an act or omission by an economic operator which has, or would have, the effect of prejudicing the general budget of the European Communities or budgets managed by the European Communities by an unjustified item of expenditure or budgets managed by other international organisations on behalf of the European Communities.

The agreements between the Community and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on making Community funds available to the Ignalina International Decommissioning Support Fund shall provide for appropriate measures to protect the financial interests of the Community against fraud, corruption and other irregularities and to enable the Commission, OLAF and the Court of Auditors to carry out on-the-spot checks.

Article 9

The Commission shall ensure the implementation of this Regulation and shall report at regular intervals to the European Parliament and the Council. It shall carry out a mid-term review, as provided for in Article 3.

Article 10

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

FICHE FINANCIÈRE LÉGISLATIVE

Domaine(s) politique(s): développement durable / compétitivité pour la croissance et l'emploi

Activité(s): nucléaire

Dénomination de l'action: « Programme Ignalina » de démantèlement de la centrale nucléaire (Lituanie)

1. LIGNE(S) BUDGÉTAIRE(S) + INTITULÉ(S)

La ligne utilisée pour les années 2004-2006 est la suivante : 060505 sûreté nucléaire -mesures transitoires (démantèlement). Elle est destinée à financer les fonds de démantèlement de la centrale nucléaire d'Ignalina/Lituanie.

Selon la Communication adoptée le 14 juillet 2004 [7],« Dans le cadre des traités d'adhésion, des obligations légales ont été introduites ou sont en cours de négociation, concernant la charge financière exceptionnelle que représente le démantèlement de certaines installations nucléaires. L'Union européenne s'engage à apporter une aide financière additionnelle adéquate aux efforts de démantèlement après 2006. Une ligne budgétaire spécifique serait créée sous la Rubrique 1A [8].

[7] COM(2004) 487.

[8] Competitiveness for growth and employment : toutes les actions de la DG TREN sont regroupées sous cette rubrique.

2. DONNÉES CHIFFRÉES GLOBALES

2.1 Enveloppe totale de l'action (partie B): 815 millions d'euros en CE

2.2 Période d'application:

(2007 - 2013)

2.3 Estimation globale pluriannuelle des dépenses:

a) Échéancier crédits d'engagement/crédits de paiement (intervention financière) (cf. point 6.1.1)

Millions d'euros (à la 3e décimale)

EUR million

>TABLE POSITION>

b) Assistance technique et administrative (ATA) et dépenses d'appui (DDA) (cf. point 6.1.2)

N/A

c) Incidence financière globale des ressources humaines et autres dépenses de fonctionnement

(cf. points 7.2 et 7.3)

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TOTAL a+b+c

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2.4 Compatibilité avec la programmation financière et les perspectives financières

[X] Proposition compatible avec la Communication de la Commission concernant 2007-2013 du 14 juillet 2004 (COM (2004) 487)

2.5 Incidence financière sur les recettes

[X] Aucune implication financière (concerne des aspects techniques relatifs à la mise en oeuvre d'une mesure).

3. CARACTÉRISTIQUES BUDGÉTAIRES

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4. BASE JURIDIQUE

Le protocole n° 4 à l'Acte d'accession , en son article 3 alinéa 2, dispose que « Les modalités de mise en oeuvre du programme Ignalina, une fois prorogé, sont arrêtées conformément à la procédure prévue à l'article 56 de l'Acte d'adhésion... ». Cet article dispose que sauf s'il en est disposé autrement, le Conseil, statuant à la majorité qualifiée sur proposition de la Commission, arrête les mesures nécessaires pour mettre en oeuvre, en l'espèce, la contribution financière pour le démantèlement d'Ignalina. Le protocole n° 4 prévoit donc une base juridique spécifique.

5. DESCRIPTION ET JUSTIFICATION

5.1 Nécessité d'une intervention communautaire [9]

[9] Pour plus d'informations, voir le document d'orientation séparé.

5.1.1 Objectifs poursuivis

Dans le cadre des négociations d'adhésion, la Lituanie s'est engagée à fermer l'unité 1 de la centrale nucléaire d'Ignalina avant 2005 et l'unité 2 le 31 décembre 2009 au plus tard. Ces engagements de fermeture ont été repris dans le cadre du protocole n° 4 à l'Acte relatif aux conditions d'adhésion à l'Union européenne de la République tchèque, de l'Estonie, de Chypre, de la Lettonie, de la Lituanie, de la Hongrie, de Malte, de la Pologne, de la Slovénie et de la Slovaquie.

Il convient de rappeler que ce protocole prévoit, entre autre, la poursuite sans interruption et la prorogation d'un soutien communautaire dans le cadre du « Programme Ignalina » la continuation d'un soutien communautaire au démantèlement y compris pour la période des prochaines perspectives financières. Le soutien couvre le processus de démantèlement ainsi que ses conséquences non nucléaires.

L'étude qui a été financée dans le cadre de PHARE, réalisée par un consortium NIS/SGN/SKB et confirmée par d'autres études internationales, a estimé le coût du démantèlement des unités 1 et 2 de la centrale d'Ignalina, de type RBMK 1500, à environ 1 milliard d'euros (valeur 2000) pour l'ensemble des opérations, incluant le traitement des déchets, exemption faite du stockage définitif des combustibles usés. Il convient de noter que les autorités lituaniennes ont toujours présenté des évaluations plus élevées. Les coûts non nucléaires (par exemple le remplacement des capacités de production ; les mesures liées à la sécurité d'approvisionnement) découlant du démantèlement doivent être rajoutés.

Compte tenu de l'importance des sommes nécessaires au démantèlement de ces installations, l'Union européenne a également accepté que pour la période couverte par les prochaines perspectives financières l'ensemble des crédits soit adéquat [10], la programmation des ressources devant être fondée sur les besoins de financement et les capacités d'absorption réelles.

[10] voir article 3 alinéa 4 du protocole n° 4.

5.1.2 Dispositions prises relevant de l'évaluation ex ante

Il n'y a pas d'évaluation ex-ante car il s'agit d'une action découlant des négociations d'adhésion. Cette proposition ne porte pas sur la nécessité de démanteler ces installations mais sur la poursuite de son financement. Il a toujours entendu que le démantèlement était une action de longue durée et coûteuse.

5.1.3 Valeur ajoutée communautaire

Le financement du démantèlement des installations nucléaires faisant l'objet d'engagements de fermeture anticipée a occupé une place très importante dans le cadre des discussions d'élargissement de l'Union européenne. Les états concernés ont accepté de fermer certains réacteurs. L'Union européenne, pour sa part, a témoigné de sa solidarité à leur égard en leur octroyant une assistance financière afin d'accompagner le démantèlement. L'Union a déjà honoré ses engagements dans le cadre de la période 2004-2006. Il est désormais nécessaire, conformément à ce que prévoit l'Acte d'adhésion, de mettre en place les instruments nécessaires lui permettant de remplir ses obligations dans le cadre des prochaines perspectives financières pour la période 2007-2013.

5.2 Actions envisagées et modalités de l'intervention budgétaire

Les crédits affectés au programme Ignalina serviront à couvrir différentes mesures visées à l'article 2, paragraphes 3 et 4 du Protocole n° 4 du traité d'adhésion.

La priorité sera donnée aux travaux de déclassement proprement dits, de manière à assurer un haut niveau de sûreté nucléaire, aux mesures de modernisation des capacités conventionnelles de production d'énergie, à l'amélioration de la sécurité de l'approvisionnement énergétique par l'interconnexion avec les réseaux transeuropéens et aux mesures destinées à aider le personnel de la centrale à maintenir un niveau élevé de sûreté opérationnelle dans la centrale au cours de la période précédant la fermeture et pendant le déclassement des réacteurs.

5.3 Modalités de mise en oeuvre

Les crédits correspondants aux actions envisagées sous le point 5.2, à l'exception des mesures destinées à aider le personnel de la centrale à maintenir un niveau élevé de sûreté opérationnelle dans la centrale, pourront être mis à disposition en tant que contribution de la Communauté au Fonds international d'appui au démantèlement administré par la Banque européenne pour la reconstruction et le développement (BERD).

Les mesures destinées à aider le personnel de la centrale seront gérées par la Commission.

6. INCIDENCE FINANCIÈRE

6.1 Incidence financière totale sur la partie B (pour toute la période de programmation)

(Le mode de calcul des montants totaux présentés dans le tableau ci-après doit être expliqué par la ventilation dans le tableau 6.2. )

6.1.1 Intervention financière

Crédits d'engagement en millions d'euros (à la 3e décimale)

>TABLE POSITION>

6.1.2 Assistance technique et administrative (ATA), dépenses d'appui (DDA) et dépenses TI (crédits d'engagement)

N/A

6.2. Calcul des coûts par mesure envisagée en partie B (pour toute la période de programmation) [11]

[11] Pour plus d'informations, voir le document d'orientation séparé.

Compte tenu de la période concernée et de la complexité des opérations de démantèlement, les projets individuels seront déterminés annuellement dans le processus budgétaire

7. INCIDENCE SUR LES EFFECTIFS ET LES DÉPENSES ADMINISTRATIVES

7.1. Incidence sur les ressources humaines

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Le besoin total en ressources humaines s'élève à 2,5 fonctionnaires. Actuellement, 0,75 fonctionnaire est en place.

7.2 Incidence financière globale des ressources humaines

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Les montants correspondent aux dépenses totales pour 12 mois.

7.3 Autres dépenses de fonctionnement découlant de l'action

>TABLE POSITION>

Les montants correspondent aux dépenses totales de l'action pour 12 mois.

(1) Préciser le type de comité ainsi que le groupe auquel il appartient.

I. Total annuel (7.2 + 7.3) // 284.000 EUR arrondi à 300.000 EUR

II. Durée de l'action // 7 ans

III. Coût total de l'action (I x II) // 1.988.000EUR arrondi à 2.000.000 EUR

(Dans l'estimation des ressources humaines et administratives nécessaires pour l'action, les DG/services devront tenir compte des décisions arrêtées par la Commission lors du débat d'orientation et de l'approbation de l'avant-projet de budget (APB). Ceci signifie que les DG devront indiquer que les ressources humaines peuvent être couvertes à l'intérieur de la préallocation indicative prévue lors de l'adoption de l'APB.

Dans des cas exceptionnels où les actions visées n'étaient pas prévisibles lors de la préparation de l'APB, la Commission devra être saisie afin de décider si la mise en oeuvre de l'action proposée peut être acceptée et selon quelles modalités (à travers une modification de la préallocation indicative, une opération ad hoc de redéploiement, un budget rectificatif et supplémentaire ou une lettre rectificative au projet de budget.)

Les besoins en ressources humaines et administratives seront couverts à l'intérieur de la dotation allouée à la DG gestionnaire dans le cadre de la procédure d'allocation annuelle.

8. SUIVI ET ÉVALUATION

8.1 Système de suivi

Les indicateurs de suivi feront intervenir en particulier :

* La fermeture effective dans les délais prévus des réacteurs concernés i.e Ignalina 1 pour le 31/12/2004, Ignalina 2 pour le 31/12/2009

* Disponibilité des propositions annuelles de financement sur la base de rapports d'avancement

* Elaboration des accords de subvention avec la BERD

* Elaboration des accords détaillés avec des estimations de coûts

* Reporting régulier

8.2 Modalités et périodicité de l'évaluation prévue

La Commission fera régulièrement rapport au Parlement européen et au Conseil ; en outre elle procédera à une évaluation à mi parcours et en 2013.

9. MESURES ANTIFRAUDE

Comme prévu à l'article 8, la Commission, soit directement par l'intermédiaire de ses agents soit par l'intermédiaire de tout autre organisme externe qualifié de son choix, a le droit d'effectuer un audit sur l'utilisation qui est faite de la subvention. Ces audits peuvent se faire pendant toute la durée du contrat ainsi que pendant une période de cinq ans à compter de la date de paiement du solde de la subvention. Le cas échéant, les résultats de ces audits pourront conduire à des décisions de recouvrement de la part de la Commission.

Le personnel de la Commission ainsi que les personnes extérieures mandatées par la Commission ont un accès approprié, en particulier aux bureaux du bénéficiaire, ainsi qu'à toutes les informations nécessaires, y compris sous format électronique, pour mener à bien ces audits.

La Cour des Comptes dispose des mêmes droits, notamment le droit d'accès, que la Commission.

En outre, afin de protéger les intérêts financiers des Communautés européennes contre les fraudes et autres irrégularités, l'Office européen de Lutte Anti-Fraude (OLAF) est autorisée à effectuer des contrôles et vérifications sur place dans le cadre du présent programme, conformément au règlement (EURATOM, CE) n° 2185/96 du Conseil [12]. Pour les actions communautaires financées par le présent règlement, la notion d'irrégularité visée à l'article 1 paragraphe 2 du règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 2988/95 s'entend comme toute violation d'une disposition du droit communautaire ou toute méconnaissance d'une obligation contractuelle résultant d'un acte ou d'une omission par un opérateur économique qui a ou aurait pour effet de porter préjudice au budget général des communautés européennes, à des budgets gérés par celles-ci par une dépense indue, ou encore à des budgets gérés par d'autres organisations internationales pour le compte des Communautés.

[12] JO L 292 du 15.11.1996, p. 2.

Les accords entre la Communauté et la Banque européenne pour la reconstruction et le développement relatif à la mise à disposition des fonds communautaires au Fond international d'appui au démantèlement, prévoient des dispositions appropriées afin de protéger les intérêts financiers de la Communauté contre la fraude, la corruption et les autres irrégularités et de permettre à la Commission, l'OLAF et la Cour des Comptes d'effectuer des contrôles sur place.