As more progress is needed in Bulgaria with regard to the final disposal of irradiated fuel elements and highly radioactive waste, and as the final disposal of all radioactive substances resulting from the closure of Kozloduy nuclear plant is a highly important process which needs to be carefully planned, the Union should assist the Bulgarian Government in the process of identifying the final disposal solutions, if appropriate on the basis of a study by the Bulgarian Government relating to the safe final disposal of all radioactive substances involved in the decommissioning .

Measures to accelerate the availability of the overall temporary storage capacity and to rapidly carry out a procedure to select a final disposal site, as well as measures to survey its geological suitability, should be funded from the budget of EUR 120 m which is being made available for the handling of irradiated fuel elements until 2013.

The total financing provided for the decommissioning until 2013 will be EUR 860 m. Although the share of this up to 2006 and for 2009 is not currently known with exactitude, it may be assumed that most of the costs which will be incurred until 2013 for the decommissioning and for handling the radioactive waste, as well as the temporary storage of irradiated fuel elements planned to date, are covered.

As more progress is needed in Bulgaria with regard to the final disposal of irradiated fuel elements and highly radioactive waste, and as the final disposal of all radioactive substances resulting from the closure of Kozloduy nuclear plant is a highly important process which needs to be carefully planned, the Union should assist the Bulgarian Government in the process of identifying the final disposal solutions, if appropriate on the basis of a study by the Bulgarian Government relating to the safe final disposal of all radioactive substances involved in the decommissioning.

In Units 3 and 4, decommissioning measures are only possible to a limited extent, as the storage ponds still contain irradiated fuel elements.

The new Agreement, which will remain in force for 30 years, followed possibly by subsequent 5-year roll-over periods, guarantees the following framework as long as it remains in force: 1.Any non-sensitive nuclear activities, as well as enrichment up to 20%, irradiation of fissile materials and post-irradiation examination involving chemical dissolution or separation of irradiated nuclear material will be freely and unconditionally allowed. 2.Retransfers to third countries will be authorised on a long-term basis according to procedures set out in the agreement. 3.Storage of sensitive fissile material will be possible in any facility that ...[+++]meets the usual physical protection levels. 4.Reprocessing and alteration in form or content (e.g. fabrication of certain fuel elements) of sensitive fissile materials will take place under a generic programmatic consent, in facilities forming part of the list of nuclear facilities ("peaceful programme") listed by each party.