Nuclear energy: Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant in Slovakia, implementation of the Protocol No 9 annexed to the Accession Act 2004

2004/0221(CNS)

PURPOSE: to provide financing for the decommissioning of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant in Slovakia.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Regulation (Euratom) N° 549/2007 on the implementation of Protocol No 9 on Unit 1 and Unit 2 of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant in Slovakia 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.

CONTENT: This Regulation establishes the programme laying down detailed rules for implementation of the Community’s financial contribution provided for in Protocol No 9 annexed to the 2003 Act of Accession. Protocol No 9 on Unit 1 and Unit 2 of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant in Slovakia, as annexed to the 2003 Act of Accession, reiterates Slovakia’s commitment to close the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant and, to this end, established an assistance programme with a budget of EUR 90 million for the period 2004 to 2006. However, in Protocol No 9 the Union also recognised that decommissioning of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant would have to continue beyond the Financial Perspectives 2002 to 2006 and that this effort represented a significant financial burden for Slovakia. Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant over the period from 2007 to 2013.

The Community contribution to the programme under the Regulation will be granted for the purpose of providing financial support for measures connected with the decommissioning of the Bohunice V1 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 Bohunice V1 power 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 Slovakia as well as to enhancing security of supply and energy efficiency in Slovakia.

The financial reference amount necessary for implementation of the programme 2 for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013 shall be EUR 423 million.

The amount of the appropriations allocated to the 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.

Financial assistance for measures under the programme, or parts thereof, may be made available as a Community contribution to the Bohunice International Decommissioning Support Fund, managed by the EBRD.

The Commission will ensure the implementation of this Regulation and shall report at regular intervals to the European Parliament and the Council. It will carry out a mid-term review, as stated above.

The European Parliament shall be informed by the Commission of committee proceedings on a regular basis. To that end, it will receive agendas for committee meetings, and the results of voting and summary records of the meetings and lists of the authorities and organisations to which the persons designated by the Member States to represent them belong.

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 12/06/2007.