WRITTEN QUESTION E-2121/02

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE)and Gordon Adam (PSE) to the Commission

(17 July 2002)

Subject: Kozloduj nuclear power plant

We refer to the view of the European Parliament as expressed in a motion for a resolution on the accession process, adopted in June 2002, concerning the open-minded approach that should be adopted in reaching agreement on the future of the two nuclear units 3 and 4 at Kozloduj in Bulgaria.

Given the substantial upgrading which has been done to the plants and which, according to the IAEA, address all the original safety concerns, and given the existence of an independent and professionally staffed nuclear regulator in Bulgaria, could the Commission explain the technical basis for demanding closure of these plants as a condition for Bulgarian accession to the EU?

If any uncertainty remains concerning this issue, would not the Commission consider it appropriate to ask WENRA to revisit the plants and offer a further independent opinion?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 2002)

The Commission has repeatedly emphasised the importance of a high level of nuclear safety in all candidate countries.

With regard to units 3 and 4 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), in an Understanding reached in 1999, Bulgaria committed to the early final closure of units 3 and 4 before the initially envisaged dates of 2008-2010, respectively.

Within the context of the accession negotiations on chapter 14 (energy) and noting Bulgaria's commitment in the Understanding, Member States have invited Bulgaria to set in 2002 a firm date for the final closure of units 3 and 4 that is to be no later than 2006. This Union position has, with regard to the closure issue, taken precedence over the 1999 Understanding signed with the Commission. It is now up to Bulgaria to state its position within the framework of the accession negotiations.

Against this background, the resolution of the Parliament to which the Honourable Members refer is substantially directed at the Member States who have determined the Union's position on the closure dates.

With regard to safety improvements, the Commission is informed that, following its recent mission to Bulgaria, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been preparing a report on the measures taken by the Kozloduy NPP. The IAEA was expected to make its conclusions available to Bulgaria at the end of August 2002. The Commission will therefore only be in a position to comment on this report once the Bulgarian authorities have released it into the public domain.

The Commission recognises that improvements on the operational safety of units 3 and 4 have been made and notes the reinforcement of the nuclear safety authority in Bulgaria. These safety improvements were partially funded with Community assistance from the Phare financial instrument. However, the Commission points out that units 3 and 4 of the Kozloduy NPP continue to harbour a number of deviations from safety requirements due to their original design.

Given the position of the Union in the framework of the accession negotiations, the Commission sees no merit in addressing the Western European Nuclear Regulation Association (WENRA), particularly whilst awaiting the pending IAEA report. Furthermore, the Commission notes that the Peer Review Status Report of the Council of June 2002(1) recently reaffirmed the importance of Bulgaria's commitment on the definitive closure of units 1 to 4 of the Kozloduy NPP at the earliest possible dates and recalled the Union's understanding that the closure of units 3 and 4 will take place in 2006 at the latest.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/negotiations/chapters/chap14/index.htm.