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Bulgaria agrees nuclear shut-down
 The two oldest reactors at Kozloduy will be closed by 2003 |
Bulgaria says it will close four Soviet-built nuclear reactors in return for talks on EU membership in the new year.
The agreement was reached during a one-day visit to the country by the European Union Commissioner responsible for enlargement, Guenter Verheugen, in which he held talks with Prime Minister Ivan Kostov.
"Bulgaria has made enough progress to be invited" Mr Verheugen said.
 Mr Verheugen says the deal will make Bulgaria's energy sector 'safe and competitive' |
Reactors unsafe
Bulgaria had requested that "direct and indirect losses be compensated" for shutting down the reactors, which the EU considers unsafe.
Under the accord the two oldest reactors, dating from the mid-1970s, will be closed by 2003. Reactors 3 and 4, which came online in 1979-81, will close by 2006, although no exact date has been set.
In exchange for the closures the EU has agreed to grant Bulgaria 200m euros ($200m) by 2006, and to loan it 250m euros ($250m) to upgrade two remaining units at the plant.
 Premier Kostov will agree the exact closure dates in further talks with the EU |
"Europe needs Bulgaria to be a full member in order to guarantee peace and stability in this part of Europe," he said
"Second wave" countries
The European Commission recommended in October that the EU begin accession negotations with Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Malta.
However it said that talks with Bulgaria should not proceed until an acceptable date for closing the four aging nuclear plants at Kozloduy had been set.
But after signing a memorandum of understanding on Monday Mr Verheugen said "there is no need to make the invitation conditional."
A final decision on all six countries' applications is due to be taken at the EU Helsinki summit on 10-11 December.
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 | 14 Oct 99 | Europe |
| EU set to spread east |
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| 22 Nov 99 | Europe |
| Clinton offers hope to Bulgaria |
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| 27 Aug 99 | Europe |
| Communist bastion finally crumbles |
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| Monitor Newspaper (in Bulgarian) |
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