Bulgaria has agreed to close down two of the reactors at Kozloduy, which will remove a key obstacle to its efforts to join the European Union (EU) in 2007.
Bulgaria committed itself to closing Kozloduy 3 and 4 by 2006, but secured the promise of a peer review inspection from the EU to determine the level of safety. However, the EU has confirmed that it will insist on the closure of the reactors, regardless of the results of the review. The relevant chapters in Bulgaria's negotiations have now been concluded, but are still sensitive, mainly because Kozloduy produces about 40 per cent of Bulgaria's electricity.
Kozloduy 1 and 2 will be closed in 2002. Units 5 and 6 will be allowed to continue to operate. By agreeing to shut Kozloduy 3 and 4, Bulgaria was able to conclude talks on energy, one of 30 policy areas which need to be agreed with the EU before any country can join. This deal increases the number of policy areas Bulgaria has agreement on to 23.
Bulgaria's foreign minister, Solomon Plassy, said that the terms of EU aid towards closing the reactors still needs to be negotiated. EU leaders were due to make a final decision on the aid package to Bulgaria at the Copenhagen summit in mid-December.
The Commission has proposed that Bulgaria and Romania should receive a combined pre-accession rise in aid of 20 per cent to r1.23 billion in 2004. This will rise to r1.33 billion in 2005, and r1.43 billion in 2006.
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