Strasbourg, 05/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has voiced criticism regarding the delays, lack of coordination and the large amount of money being allocated to unrelated energy projects. It expressed disapproval at the nuclear power plant decommissioning programmes in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia. The EP demands that funds intended for the closure of plants be managed better with a view to extending EU decommissioning programmes beyond 2013.
In a resolution adopted in plenary on Tuesday 5 April on the basis of the report by Marian-Jean Marinescu (EPP, Romania), the Parliament expresses concern at delays and the general lack of coordination in decommissioning plans in the above three countries, which receive Community funding for decommissioning. In order to remedy the situation, MEPs call on the Commission to set up a coordination team to supervise the plans, the timetable and the use of money so far, to determine if there is a further need for an EU role, and to decide on responsibilities within the programmes. MEPs also question the relatively high share of EU funds going to energy projects not directly related to the three decommissioned power plants. They therefore invite the Court of Auditors to compile a special report on the three decommissioning programmes, to be published this autumn. Parliament asks the Council to say whether the funds were used as intended, whether public procurement procedures were respected, whether the money spent led to better safety, whether the EU anti-fraud agency, OLAF, has been involved, and whether there has been enough coordination between the programmes.
During the current long-term budgetary framework for 2007-2013, EU aid is estimated to be €1.367 billion for Ignalina (Lithuania), €613 million for Bohunice (Slovakia), and €868 million for Kozloduy (Bulgaria). The programmes consist of measures in the areas of decommissioning (e.g. waste treatment and fuel decontamination), energy supply security and the social consequences. (E.H./transl.jl)