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Adopted text 2026-09-16

Nuclear decommissioning assistance programme of the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania for the period 2028-2034

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Parliament's amended version of a proposed Council regulation sets up a nuclear decommissioning assistance programme for the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania 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, with Lithuania and other sources covering the rest. The programme's objectives are to dismantle and decontaminate the plant, manage radioactive waste safely, create and share decommissioning knowledge, and protect the site against hybrid threats including attacks by unmanned aerial systems. Parliament approves the Commission proposal as amended and asks the Commission to change its proposal accordingly, the Council to notify Parliament if it departs from the approved text, and the Council to consult Parliament again on substantial amendments.

Key points

  1. The regulation establishes the Ignalina programme, its objectives, its budget for 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034, the forms of Union funding and the rules for providing it.
  2. General objectives are to assist Lithuania with decommissioning, manage radiological safety, improve organisation and workforce skills, and 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 on critical infrastructure by unmanned aerial systems.
  5. The Joint Research Centre coordinates structuring and dissemination of knowledge to member states and, under conditions, third countries, without disclosing sensitive information held by undertakings; dissemination beyond the Union is controlled and subject to confidentiality safeguards.
  6. The programme envelope is EUR 678 000 000 in current prices (EUR 602 720 000 in 2025 prices); commitments may be broken into annual instalments and appropriations may be entered beyond 2034 for unfinished actions.
  7. Member states, Union institutions, bodies and agencies, third countries, international organisations, international financial institutions and other third parties may make additional financial or non-financial contributions.
  8. 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.
  9. Only activities implementing the programme's objectives are eligible; funding is limited to legal entities established in a member state or an associated country unless justified by security or technical necessity.
  10. The programme is implemented through work programmes that reflect the applicable decommissioning plan, which serves as the baseline for monitoring and evaluation.
  11. The Commission is assisted by a committee under Regulation (EU) No 182/2011, and the Commission may amend the Annex by implementing acts using the examination procedure.
  12. Regulation (EU) 2021/101 is repealed from 1 January 2028, but actions initiated under it continue under that regulation until closure; the new regulation applies from 1 January 2028.

Who is affected

  • Lithuania: receives Union assistance for decommissioning, must co-finance the programme and keeps ultimate responsibility for nuclear safety and waste management.
  • Workers at the Ignalina plant: targeted upskilling, reskilling and training support adaptation and redeployment; workforce adjustments linked to outsourcing come only after outsourcing and with retraining.
  • The Visaginas region: its socio-economic development remains Lithuania's responsibility and is not funded by this programme.
  • Entities receiving Union funds: must cooperate in protecting the Union's financial interests and grant access to the Commission, OLAF, EPPO and the European Court of Auditors.
  • Third countries: may take part in knowledge exchanges and training where this aligns with Union strategic interests, possibly against a financial contribution.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 678 000 000 in current prices — programme envelope for 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034.
  • EUR 602 720 000 in 2025 prices — programme envelope for the same period.
  • as close to 86% as possible — overall maximum Union co-financing rate.
  • about 14% — Lithuania's contribution to direct decommissioning activities since the beginning of the programme.
  • 31 December 2004 and 31 December 2009 — deadlines for closure of Ignalina Unit 1 and Unit 2.
  • 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034 — period of the programme and of its budget.
  • 1 January 2028 — date from which Regulation (EU) 2021/101 is repealed and the new regulation applies.
  • 100% of eligible costs — Union funding rate for Joint Research Centre knowledge activities under INSC-D.

Legal basis: Article 3(2) of Protocol No 4 attached 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.