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

The European Parliament adopted by 625 votes to 20, with 22 abstentions, a legislative resolution 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.

Parliament approved the Commission proposal as amended.

Programme objectives

The Programme has the following general objectives:

- to adequately assist Lithuania in implementing the decommissioning of the Ignalina nuclear power plant, with specific emphasis on managing the radiological safety challenges and optimising the efficiency of the programme implementation through improved organisation, innovation and the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce, while ensuring that any reduction of the workforce does not create unnecessary operational risks;

- to create knowledge on the nuclear decommissioning process and the management of radioactive waste resulting from the decommissioning activities, delivering explicit knowledge products on decommissioning and waste management governance issues, managerial best practices, health and safety protocols for workers and the general public and technological challenges, with a particular focus on preventing environmental contamination and adverse health effects from radioactive materials.

In light of the evolving geopolitical and security environment, the nuclear decommissioning site should be adequately protected against hybrid threats, including attacks on critical infrastructure by unmanned aerial systems. To that end, the Programme may be used to finance measures to increase the security of the nuclear facility site from such threats.

Budget

Given that the financial burden associated with those activities exceeds the total costs of the decommissioning programme, it is essential to ensure that Lithuania does not bear this responsibility alone, particularly as addressing potential safety threats benefits the Union as a whole, not only Lithuania.

The programme envelope for the implementation of the Programme for the period from 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034 is set at EUR 678 000 000 in current prices (EUR 602 720 000 in 2025 prices).

Optimised human resources

In view of the dismantling activities to be performed during 2028-2034 and the planned outsourcing of the full dismantling of reactor shaft central zones, targeted upskilling, reskilling and training measures should be implemented to support the adaptation and redeployment of personnel. Where workforce adjustments due to outsourcing are considered, they should only take place once the outsourcing has been implemented and should be coupled with retraining and reskilling policies. Such adjustments should not endanger the safe and effective conduct of the decommissioning process.