Nuclear safety: 1st instalment of the 3rd Community contribution to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD for the Chernobyl Shelter Fund

PURPOSE :  to grant the first instalment of the third Community contribution to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the Chernobyl Shelter Fund.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Decision 2006/908/EC, Euratom on the first instalment of the third Community contribution to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the Chernobyl Shelter Fund.

CONTENT : With this Decision, the Community makes a contribution of EUR 14,4 million to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the Chernobyl Shelter Fund in 2006. The new contribution will be subjected to the same conditions stated in Articles 1 and 3 of Council Decision 98/381/EC of 5 June 1998 concerning the first contribution of funds (CNS/1997/0235), as applicable. The balance of the pledge (EUR 34.7 million), to be paid over the period 2007-2009, will be subjected to a new decision.

The contribution will be made according to Article II, Section 2.02 of the Rules of the Fund and will be the subject of a formal Contribution Agreement between the European Commission and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The Commission shall administer the contribution to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund in accordance with Council Regulation 1605/2002/EC on the Financial Regulation. It must forward all relevant information to the budgetary authority and the Court of Auditors and shall provide any supplementary information that they may wish to receive, as regards the aspects of the operation of the Chernobyl Shelter Fund that relate to the Community’s contribution. The Commission will submit to the European Parliament and to the Council, on a yearly basis, a progress report on the implementation of the Chernobyl Shelter Fund.

With respect to procurement arrangements relating to grants made from the resources of the Chernobyl Shelter Fund, the Commission must ensure that there is no discrimination between Member States, and may authorise, on a case-by-case basis, procurement arrangements with third countries that are not TACIS partner countries, in the interest of the projects concerning the Chernobyl Shelter Implementation Plan.