20.12.2013 Official Journal of the European Union L 346/1 II (Non-legislative acts) REGULATIONS COUNCIL REGULATION (EURATOM) No 1368/2013 of 13 December 2013 on Union support for the nuclear decommissioning assistance programmes in Bulgaria and Slovakia, and repealing Regulations (Euratom) No 549/2007 and (Euratom) No 647/2010 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic obligations, Slovakia shut down all units concerned within the respective deadlines. Energy Community, and in particular Article 203 therco, N A Ml S A R closed the Kozloduy and Bohunice V1 nuclear power plants and have made significant progress towards their decommissioning. Further work is necessary in order to Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, continue the progress with the actual decontamination, dismantling, management of spent fuel and radioactive waste operations and to implement the steady process towards the decommissioning end state in accordance ) o ) with the respective decommissioning plans, whilst Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ('), ensuring that the highest safety standards are applied. Based on the available estimates, completion of the decommissioning work will require substantial additional financial resources. Whereas: (4)  The premature shutdown and consequent decommis- ) ) - sioning of the Bohunice VI nuclear power plant with (1) According to the Protocol concerning the conditions and two WWER 440V 230 type units with an overall arrangements for admission of the Republic of Bulgaria capacity of 880 MW has resulted, besides social and and Romania to the European Union (%), Bulgaria energy implications, in a significant financial burden of committed itself to the closure of units 1 and 2 and direct and indirect costs for Slovakia. units 3 and 4 of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant by 31 December 2002 and 31 December 2006 respectively, and to the subsequent decommissioning of those units. In line with its obligations, Bulgaria shut down all units (55 The premature shutdown and consequent decommis- concerned within the respective deadlines. sioning of four WWER 440V 230 type units of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant with an overall capacity of 1 760 MW has imposed a heavy long-term burden on Bulgarian citizens in terms of energy, economic, environ- (2)  According to Protocol No 9 on unit 1 and unit 2 of the mental and social implications. Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant in Slovakia (%) attached to the 2003 Act of Accession, Slovakia committed itself to the closure of unit 1 and unit 2 of the Bohunice V1 ) ) ) ) ) nuclear power plant by 31 December 2006 and (6)  The Union has committed to assist Bulgaria and Slovakia 31 December 2008 respectively, and to the subsequent decommissioning of those units. In line with its (") Opinion of 19 November 2013 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () 0] L 157, 21.6.2005, p. 29. () O] L 236, 23.9.2003, p. 954. in addressing the exceptional financial burden imposed by the decommissioning process. Since the pre-accession period, Bulgaria and Slovakia have received substantial financial support from the Union, notably through the Kozloduy and Bohunice programmes established for the period 2007 - 2013. The Union financial support under those programmes will end in 2013.