Changes between two versions
What changed between the plenary report and the adopted text
From · plenary report· 6 Jul 2026
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
To · adopted text· 16 Sept 2026
Nuclear decommissioning assistance programme of the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania for the period 2028-2034
AI:What changed, in short
The versions differ only in formal points: the headings for Articles 1 to 14 and the Annex are removed.1234
0 changes of substance · 15 formal · 0 of wording only
Written by AI from the two texts only · read the changes before relying on it · 17 Sept 2026 · Report a problem
+4 added · −49 removed · 2 changed paragraphs, packaging included.
Part 2 of 6: Paragraphs 61–120
4 unchanged paragraphs
Definitions
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:
(1) ‘decommissioning’ means administrative and technical measures which allow the removal of some or all of the regulatory controls from a nuclear facility and which aim at ensuring the long-term protection of the public and the environment, including the reduction of the levels of residual radionuclides in the materials and on the site of the facility;
(2) ‘decommissioning plan’ means a document containing detailed information on the proposed decommissioning and covering the selected decommissioning strategy; the schedule, type and sequence of decommissioning activities; the waste management strategy applied, including clearance; the proposed end state; the storage and disposal of the waste from decommissioning; the timeframe for decommissioning; the cost estimates for the completion of decommissioning; and the objectives, expected results, milestones, target dates, as well as the corresponding key decommissioning indicators, including earned value based indicators. The plan is prepared by the nuclear facility license holder and is reflected in the multiannual work programmes of the Programme.
Change 3
Removed:Article 3
8 unchanged paragraphs
Programme objectives
1. The Programme has the following general objectives:
(a) 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.
(b) 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.
The knowledge referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph shall be disseminated at Union level, and, where appropriate, beyond, in all relevant areas, developing potential Union synergies, under programme Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation and Decommissioning (INSC-D), as set out in Article [X] of Regulation (Euratom) [XXX].
2. The Joint Research Centre shall coordinate the structuring and dissemination of knowledge, referred to in paragraph 1, first subparagraph, point (b), to Member States and, when relevant, and under certain conditions, to third countries without disclosing any sensitive information held by undertakings. Any dissemination beyond the Union shall be duly controlled and subject to appropriate confidentiality safeguards which ensure the Union’s security interests, intellectual property and technological leadership. Those activities shall be financed under the INSC-D programme and funded by the Union at 100% of eligible costs. Where a third country is granted access to the knowledge or training provided under the Programme, it may be subject to an appropriate financial contribution, which shall be agreed between the Union and the third country.
3. The specific objective of the Programme shall be to carry out the engineering, dismantling and decontamination of the Ignalina equipment and reactor shafts in accordance with the decommissioning plan, including the management of radioactive waste resulting from the decommissioning activities, ensuring the highest standards of radiation protection for workers, the general public and the environment and to continue with the safe management of the decommissioning and legacy waste, while preventing long-term environmental harm and adverse health effects. In light of the evolving geopolitical and security environment, the nuclear decommissioning site shall 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.
4. The detailed description of the specific objective referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article is set out in the Annex. The Commission may amend, by means of implementing acts, the Annex. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 11(2). Implementation of the Programme and its specific objectives shall be guided by clear targets and milestones and a focus on cost-efficient and transparent spending of the budget.
Change 4
Removed:Article 4
5 unchanged paragraphs
Budget
1. 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).
2. Budgetary commitments for actions extending over more than one financial year may be broken down over several years into annual instalments.
3. Appropriations may be entered in the Union budget beyond 2034 to cover the expenses necessary and to enable the management of action not completed by the end of the Programme.
4. The financial envelope referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article and the amounts of additional resources referred to in Article 5 may also be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the Programme, such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, corporate information technology systems and platforms, information communication and visibility activities, including corporate communication on the political priorities of the Union, and all other technical and administrative assistance or staff-related expenses incurred by the Commission for the management of the Programme.
Change 5
Removed:Article 5
Additional resources
1. Member States, Union institutions, bodies and agencies, third countries, international organisations, international financial institutions, or other third parties, may make additional financial or non-financial contributions to the Programme. Additional financial contributions shall constitute external assigned revenue within the meaning of Article 21(2), points (a), (d), or (e), or Article 21(5) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.
2. Resources allocated to Member States under shared management may, at their request, be made available to the Programme. The Commission shall implement those resources directly or indirectly in accordance with Article 62(1), point (a) or (c), of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. Such resources shall be additional to the amount referred to in Article 4(1) of this Regulation. Such resources shall be used for the benefit of the Member State concerned. Where the Commission has not entered into a legal commitment under direct or indirect management for additional amounts thus made available to the Programme, the corresponding uncommitted amounts may, at the request of the Member State concerned, be transferred back to one or more respective source programmes or their successors.
Change 6
Removed:Article 6
Alternative, combined and cumulative funding
1. The Programme shall be implemented in synergy with other Union programmes. An action that has received a Union contribution from another programme may also receive a contribution under the Programme. The rules of the relevant Union programme shall apply to the corresponding contribution or a single set of rules may be applied to all contributions and a single legal commitment may be concluded. If the Union contribution is based on eligible costs, the cumulative support from the Union budget shall not exceed the total eligible costs of the action and may be calculated on a pro-rata basis in accordance with the documents setting out the conditions for support.
2. Award procedures under the Programme may be jointly conducted under direct or indirect management by Member States, Union institutions, bodies and agencies, third countries, international organisations, international financial institutions, or other third parties (‘partners to the joint award procedure’), provided the protection of the financial interests of the Union is ensured. Such procedures shall be subject to a single set of rules and lead to the conclusion of single legal commitments. For that purpose, the partners to the joint award procedure may make resources available to the Programme in accordance with Article 5 of this Regulation, or the partners may be entrusted with the implementation of the award procedure, where applicable in accordance with Article 62(1), point (c), of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509. In joint award procedures, representatives of the partners to the joint award procedure may also be members of the evaluation committee referred to in Article 153(3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.
Change 7
Removed:Article 7
Implementation and forms of Union funding
1. The Programme shall be implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, under direct management or under indirect management with entities referred to in Article 62(1), point (c) of that Regulation.
2. Union funding under the Programme may be provided in any form in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509, in particular, prizes, procurement and non-financial donations.
Change 8
Removed:Article 8
Eligibility
1. Only activities implementing the objectives set out in Article 3 shall be eligible for Union funding. Compliance with those rules shall be duly monitored, and in the event of any irregularities, appropriate corrective measures shall be taken. Union funding under the Programme shall be limited to legal entities established in a Member State or in a country associated with relevant Union programmes, unless otherwise justified by duly substantiated security or technical necessity.
2. The work programmes referred to in Article 110 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 may further specify the eligibility criteria set out in this Regulation or set additional eligibility criteria for specific actions.
Change 9
Removed:Article 9
Co-financing rates
The overall maximum Union co-financing rate applicable under the Programme shall be as close to 86% as possible. The remaining financing shall be provided by Lithuania and additional sources other than the Union budget.
Change 10
Removed:Article 10
Work programme
1. The Programme shall be implemented by work programmes referred to in Article 110 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.
2. The work programmes shall reflect the applicable decommissioning plan that is to serve as the baseline for the programme monitoring and evaluation.
Change 11
Removed:Article 11
4 unchanged paragraphs
Committee
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.
2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.
3. Where the opinion of the committee is to be obtained by written procedure, that procedure shall be terminated without result when, within the time limit for delivery of the opinion, the chair of the committee so decides or a simple majority of committee members so requests.
Change 12
Removed:Article 12
Repeal
Regulation (EU) 2021/101 is repealed with effect from 1 January 2028.
Change 13
Removed:Article 13
Transitional provisions
1. This Regulation shall not affect the continuation or modification of actions initiated under Regulation (EU) 2021/101, to which that Regulation shall continue to apply until their closure.
2. The financial envelope for the Programme may also cover technical and administrative assistance expenses necessary to ensure the transition between the Programme and the measures adopted under Regulation (EU) 2021/101.
Change 14
Removed:Article 14
5 unchanged paragraphs
Entry into force and application
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 1 January 2028.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels,