WRITTEN QUESTION P-3722/98

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE) to the Commission

(25 November 1998)

Subject: Nuclear safety and pre-accession strategy adopted by Bulgaria

The Commission report concerning progress towards the accession of Bulgaria indicates that short term priorities in the energy sector are inadequate and that the strategic development of the energy sector is failing to target actual needs. Despite undertakings by Bulgaria as part of the European agreement with the EU and the agreement on the Nuclear Safety Account to which the Community is a contributor, the Bulgarian Government appears reluctant to decommission the four nuclear reactors in Kozloduy (Units 1-4) which not only are the most dangerous but also cannot be made safer for reasons of cost.

1. Given that nuclear safety is a priority of Agenda 2000 is it acceptable for the nuclear reactors to be allowed to continue operating under the EU-Bulgaria Accession Partnership and following the adoption of the Community acquis with regard to energy and nuclear safety? What action does the Commission intend to take in order to use the undertakings received and Community financial assistance given as a lever to secure the immediate decommissioning of the reactor units?

2. How can the use of these reactors to cover domestic needs be justified while, at the same time, the restructuring of outdated energy-devouring industrial plants is leading to a reduction in energy needs and Bulgaria is now in a position to export 4m kilowatts of power to Turkey(1) annually?

3. Will the Commission take steps to decommission unsafe nuclear power stations in the countries of central and eastern Europe in accordance with recent recommendations by the European Parliament(2), commencing with the hazardous reactors in Kozloduy?

4. Why does the Commission not use PHARE appropriations to provide funding for alternative energy sources in Bulgaria and the management of radioactive waste from the Kozloduy power station and from the extraction of nuclear fuels?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 1998)

The Commission has always insisted that Bulgaria must proceed to the early closure of its high risk and non-upgradeable units 1 to 4 of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant, on the basis of a realistic timetable consistent with its commitments under the nuclear safety account (NSA) agreement. This position, which is shared by the NSA contributors, is clearly stated in Agenda 2000(3), in the accession partnership, and in the regular report on Bulgaria's progress toward accession. It was also included in the Community position at the 4th Community-Bulgaria association council which took place on 27 October 1998. In the course of this year, the Commission has expressed its concern on several occasions to the Bulgarian government over the latter's intentions on closure dates.

Bulgarian concerns about meeting domestic electricity demand in case of early closures of the older nuclear reactors rely on demand forecasts that appear to be very high. Moreover, as the Honourable Member points out, these concerns are hardly reconciliable with projected substantial and increased electricity exports.

The Commission is willing to assist Bulgaria in meeting its obligations under the NSA agreement and in dealing with the consequences of the early closure of these reactors.

A Euratom loan is under consideration for the modernisation of Kosloduy units 5 and 6, which is a prerequisite for the closures of Kozloduy 1 to 4 in accordance with the conditions of the NSA agreement. The loan will be strictly tied to the respect by Bulgaria of an agreed closure timetable. On the other hand, the Commission will not finance further works on the older reactors, apart from short-term safety improvements which prove necessary for their remaining operation.

The Phare programme is already funding the construction of a nuclear waste treatment plant in Bulgaria. Within the framework of a comprehensive energy strategy as required by the accession partnership, the Commission could consider support for the development of alternative energy sources. The recent inclusion of Bulgaria in the Inogate programme contributes to this goal.

The Commission places high priority in ensuring the earliest possible closure, in Bulgaria and in other applicant countries, of nuclear reactors that cannot be upgraded to internationally acceptable levels of safety at a reasonable cost. In close coordination with the NSA contributors, it will take further appropriate action to reach a satisfactory solution with its partners in the pre-accession process, to the benefit of nuclear safety in Europe.

(1) Bulgaria-Turkey cooperation protocol of 6 November 1998.

(2) Resolution A4-0354/98, minutes 22 October 1998. .

(3) COM(97) 2000 final.