"The decommissioning of Ignalina nuclear power plants is a common EU issues, not only Lithuania's issue, and if we want the decommissioning strategy to be implemented by 2029, we also need EUR 1.3 billion by 2029, and, as we all know, only EUR 210 million have been allocated. So it's really difficult to see how the decommissioning strategy will be implemented if funding is only of this size," Kubilius told BNS by phone from Brussels.
Although he did not receive any promises, Kubilius said he hoped Lithuania's arguments would be heard.
"Barroso explained the way he sees the whole negotiation process. Of course, being President of the European Commission, he cannot give any specific promises. But discussions and talks will continue, and I hope that our arguments will be heard," Kubilius said.
Last November, the European Commission suggested allocating EUR 210 million for Ignalina closure, instead of EUR 770 million asked by the Lithuanian government. Kubilius said then the EC proposal was unacceptable as it raised doubts as to whether it was in line with the commitments set out in Lithuania's accession agreement,
The EU's executive body proposed providing additional EUR 500 million to support the decommissioning of nuclear power plants in three member states, with EUR 210 million to be given to Lithuania until 2017, EUR 185 million to Bulgaria until 2020, and EUR 105 million to Slovakia until 2017.
The European Court of Auditors said in February Lithuania was behind schedule in many tasks in the decommissioning process of its Ignalina nuclear power plant and was faced with considerable lack of funding for completing the work.
In reply to the conclusions by the European Court of Auditors, the European Commission said the European Union had fulfilled its commitments, and the final responsibility lied with the member state.
1.37 billion euro had been allocated for the decommissioning of the Ignalina nuclear power plant by 2013.
