In the context of the negotiations for accession to the European Union, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia made the decision to close and subsequently decommission their reactors by a commonly agreed date. This early closure represents an exceptional financial burden for member states which was not commensurate with the economic strength of the countries concerned. In recognition of this fact and as an act of solidarity, the European Union committed itself to continue to provide additional financial assistance for the decommissioning of these reactors.
The current proposal for a Council Regulation foresees an extension of financial support from the Union with the general objective of reaching an irreversible state within the decommissioning process, while retaining the highest level of safety.