Sittings · Document

REPORT (COM(2025)0476 – C100271/2025 – 2025/0268(NLE)) 2026-07-06

On the proposal for a Council regulation establishing the nuclear decommissioning assistance programme of the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania for the period 2028-2034, and repealing Regulation (EU) 2021/101

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy · Rapporteur: Virginijus Sinkevičius

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Parliament's amended version of the Commission proposal for a Council regulation sets up the Ignalina nuclear power plant decommissioning assistance programme for 2028-2034, replacing Regulation (EU) 2021/101. It sets a programme envelope of EUR 678 000 000 in current prices (EUR 602 720 000 in 2025 prices) and a maximum Union co-financing rate as close to 86% as possible. The programme covers dismantling of reactor shafts, building demolition, waste management, radiological hazard reduction, reorganisation of the plant and protection of the site against hybrid threats including drone attacks. It requires knowledge on decommissioning and waste management to be created and shared, coordinated by the Joint Research Centre, with dissemination beyond the Union controlled and subject to confidentiality safeguards. Union funding is limited to legal entities established in a Member State or a country associated with relevant Union programmes, unless justified by security or technical necessity.

Committee position. The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy approves the Commission proposal as amended, calling on the Commission and Council to alter the proposal accordingly and to consult Parliament again if substantially amending it.

Key points

  1. The regulation establishes the Ignalina decommissioning programme for 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034 and repeals Regulation (EU) 2021/101 from 1 January 2028.
  2. The programme's general objectives are to assist Lithuania with decommissioning, focusing on radiological safety and efficiency, and to create knowledge on decommissioning and radioactive waste management.
  3. The specific objective is engineering, dismantling and decontamination of Ignalina equipment and reactor shafts under the decommissioning plan, including radioactive waste management and radiation protection.
  4. The programme may finance measures to increase security of the nuclear facility site against hybrid threats, including attacks by unmanned aerial systems.
  5. The programme envelope is EUR 678 000 000 in current prices (EUR 602 720 000 in 2025 prices), and appropriations may be entered in the Union budget beyond 2034 for unfinished actions.
  6. Member States, Union institutions, third countries, international organisations and other third parties may make additional financial or non-financial contributions to the programme.
  7. The overall maximum Union co-financing rate is as close to 86% as possible, with the rest provided by Lithuania and sources other than the Union budget.
  8. Union funding is limited to legal entities established in a Member State or a country associated with relevant Union programmes, unless justified by security or technical necessity.
  9. The Joint Research Centre coordinates structuring and dissemination of knowledge to Member States and, under conditions, third countries, financed under the INSC-D programme at 100% of eligible costs.
  10. The Commission is assisted by a committee under Regulation (EU) No 182/2011, and may amend the Annex on the specific objective through implementing acts.
  11. The Annex lists activities: dismantling reactor shafts, building demolition, safe waste management, downgrading radiological hazards, reorganisation of the plant and site protection against hybrid threats.
  12. The regulation does not affect actions initiated under Regulation (EU) 2021/101, which continues to apply to them until closure.

Who is affected

  • Lithuania: receives Union assistance for decommissioning and must co-finance the programme and submit an updated decommissioning plan when significant events occur.
  • Legal entities established in a Member State or associated country: eligible for Union funding under the programme.
  • Workers involved in decommissioning: benefit from radiation protection standards, upskilling, reskilling and training measures.
  • Third countries: may receive knowledge or training under conditions, possibly subject to a financial contribution.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 678 000 000 in current prices (EUR 602 720 000 in 2025 prices) — programme envelope for 2028-2034.
  • 86% — maximum Union co-financing rate, to be as close to this as possible.
  • 100% — Union funding of eligible costs for Joint Research Centre knowledge activities under INSC-D.
  • 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034 — period of the programme and date of repeal of Regulation (EU) 2021/101.
  • 31 December 2004 and 31 December 2009 — deadlines for closure of Ignalina Unit 1 and Unit 2.
  • 1 500 MW — capacity of each of the two RBMK-type reactor units at Ignalina.
  • about 14% — Lithuania's contribution to direct decommissioning activities since the beginning of the programme.
  • 6.5 billion Euros — estimated cost of final disposal of spent fuel and radioactive waste.

Legal basis: Article 3(2) of Protocol No 4 to the 2003 Act of Accession.

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text and ¶ links to the paragraph it rests on. Check the text itself before relying on it.