06/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - European Parliament President Pat Cox sought, last Thursday, in Vilnius, to reassure the Lithuanian authorities by announcing that MEPs would approve the proposals of financial assistance aimed at helping them to move forward with dismantling the Ignalina power station. European and Lithuanian negotiations are unable to reach an agreement on the date when the plant should be closed down. Under pressure from Brussels, Lithuania has already agreed to close one of its two reactors on the site in 2005, but refuses to accept the timetable put forward by the Commission for closing the second, i.e. 2009. The Commission proposes aid of EUR 70 million annually for the period 2004-2006 plus EUR 40 million from pre-accession funds for closure of the Ignalina plant. Lithuanian authorities evaluate the cost of the operation at EUR 2.4 billion.