On 1 July 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted a partial general approach on a proposed regulation establishing the nuclear decommissioning assistance programme for the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania for the period 2028-2034. The programme, with an indicative budget of EUR 678 million, aims to continue EU financial and technical support for the safe decommissioning of the plant, which was shut down early as a condition of Lithuania's EU accession. The Council's position sets a maximum EU co-financing rate of 86% of eligible costs, with the remainder to be covered by Lithuania and other sources.
The proposal, which repeals the previous Regulation (EU) 2021/101, mandates a one-third reduction in the decommissioning workforce compared to end-2024 levels through outsourcing and reorganisation, with retraining options for affected workers. Eligible activities include dismantling reactor shafts, building demolition, waste management, and radiological hazard downgrading. The programme also requires knowledge creation and dissemination on decommissioning and waste management, coordinated by the Joint Research Centre.
The Council's partial general approach ensures compliance with EU nuclear safety and waste management directives, with Lithuania retaining ultimate responsibility for the decommissioning process. Monitoring will be carried out by a committee co-chaired by the European Commission and Lithuania, and the budget may be reviewed based on implementation reports. Robust anti-fraud measures involving OLAF and the European Public Prosecutor's Office are included.
The programme is expected to reduce Lithuania's financial burden while promoting safety and environmental protection. However, workforce reductions may have social impacts, which the retraining programmes aim to mitigate. The initiative also enhances EU-wide expertise in nuclear decommissioning, potentially setting a precedent for future assistance programmes in other Member States. The next step is for the European Parliament to consider the proposal under the ordinary legislative procedure.