(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2004)0624)(1),

–   having regard to Article 203 of the Euratom Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C6-0205/2004),

–   having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A6-0282/2005),

1.  Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

2.  Specifies that the appropriations indicated in the proposal for a regulation are purely for guidance until agreement is reached on the financial perspective for the period 2007 and the following years;

3.  Calls on the Commission to confirm, once the next financial perspective has been adopted, the amounts indicated in the proposal for a regulation or, should the case arise, to submit the adjusted amounts for approval by the European Parliament and the Council, thereby ensuring their compatibility with the ceilings;

4.  Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 119, second paragraph, of the Euratom Treaty;

5.  Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

6.  Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal substantially;

7.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

Text proposed by the Commission   Amendments by Parliament Amendment 1 Recital 3 (3)  In the Protocol the European Union has also recognised that decommissioning of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant will have to continue beyond the current Financial Perspectives and that this effort represents a significant financial burden for Slovakia. Decisions on the continuation of assistance from the Union in this field after 2006 will take account of this situation. (3)  In the Protocol the European Union has also recognised that decommissioning of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant will have to continue beyond the current Financial Perspective and that this effort represents a significant financial burden for Slovakia. Furthermore, the European Union is aware that owing to the nature and the extent of decommissioning, efforts in that regard will continue for several years after the 2007-2013 Financial Perspective. Decisions on the continuation of assistance from the Union in this field after 2006 will take account of this situation. Amendment 2 Recital 4 a (new) (4a) The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission recognise the efforts made by Slovakia to increase the safety of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant before accession, and the fact that Slovakia invested approximately EUR 250 million in safety measures between 1993 and 2000, and will take this into consideration when making the decision on the level of financial assistance to be granted to Slovakia. Amendment 3 Recital 4 b (new) (4b) Provision in the Community budget for assistance from the Union should continue to be made after 31 December 2013. Amendment 4 Recital 4 c (new) (4c) The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission also recognise and take due account of the fact that as a result of the early closure of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant, Slovakia will not be in a position to collect all the required decommissioning funds, the gradual provision of which was scheduled in accordance with the initial life-time of the plant. Amendment 5 Recital 5 (5)  Consequently, provision should be made for a sum of €237 million from the Community budget to fund the decommissioning of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant over the period from 2007 to 2013. (5)  Consequently, provision should be made for a sum of EUR 400 million from the Community budget to fund the decommissioning of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant over the period from 2007 to 2013. Amendment 6 Recital 5 a (new) (5a) Recent proposals by the Slovak authorities to increase the amount of State Aid made available to the Slovak nuclear sector by way of the national decommissioning fund should be examined by the Commission in accordance with Community law. Amendment 7 Recital 5 b (new) (5b) Community budget appropriations for decommissioning should not lead to distortions of competition, in relation to power supply companies, on the energy market in the European Union. These appropriations should also be used to finance measures to compensate the loss of production capacity in line with the relevant acquis concerning: (i) renewable energy sources; (ii) energy end-use efficiency; (iii) security of electricity supply. Amendment 16 Recital 5 c (new) 5c. The European Union, and especially those Member States that will benefit from closure of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant, should make availaible the additional amount of EUR 163 million, in the context of the annual budgetary procedure. Amendment 8 Recital 8 a (new) (8a) In order to compensate for the consequences of the early closure, the decommissioning of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant should be carried out in the manner which best helps to sustain development and growth in Slovakia in line with the Lisbon Strategy. Amendment 9 Recital 8 b (new) (8b) In order to ensure the greatest possible efficiency, the decommissioning of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant should be carried out with recourse to the best available technical expertise, and with due regard to the nature and technological specifications of the units to be shut down. Amendment 10 Article 2 The Community contribution to the programme under this Regulation shall be granted for the purpose of providing financial support for measures connected with the decommissioning of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant, measures for environmental upgrading in line with the acquis and for modernising conventional production capacity to replace the production capacity of the two reactors at the Bohunice V1 power plant and other measures which stem from the decision to close and decommission this plant and which contribute to the necessary restructuring, upgrading of the environment and modernisation of the energy production, transmission and distribution sectors in Slovakia as well as to enhancing security of supply and energy efficiency in Slovakia. The Community contribution to the programme under this Regulation shall be granted for the purpose of providing financial support for measures connected with the decommissioning of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant, including: (i) measures for environmental upgrading in line with the acquis; (ii) measures for setting up new production capacity and for modernising existing production capacity to replace the production capacity of the two reactors at the Bohunice V1 power plant; (iii) other measures which stem from the decision to close and decommission this plant and which, in compliance with, and by implementing the applicable acquis, contribute to the necessary restructuring, upgrading of the environment and modernisation of the energy production, transmission and distribution sectors in Slovakia as well as to enhancing security of supply and energy efficiency in Slovakia. Amendment 11 Article 2, paragraph 1 a (new) The measures to be supported under the Community budget shall be defined in more detail by the Commission in 2006 after it has received the relevant decommissioning plan, comprising all the necessary information on the decommissioning process, from the Slovak authorities. The Commission shall take its annual decision on whether to approve the measures to be financed on the basis of that plan. Amendment 12 Article 3, paragraph 1 The amount necessary for implementation of the action provided for in Article 2 for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013 shall be €237 million. The amount necessary for implementation of the action provided for in Article 2 for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013 shall be EUR 400 million. Amendment 13 Article 3, paragraph 3 The amount of the appropriations allocated may be reviewed in the course of the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013 to take account of the progress made with implementation of the programme and ensure that the programming and allocation of the resources are based on actual payment needs and absorption capacity. The amount of annual appropriations allocated may vary in the course of the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013 to take account of the progress made with implementation of the programme and ensure that the programming and allocation of the resources are based on actual payment needs and absorption capacity. Amendment 14 Article 3, paragraph 3 a (new) Provision for financial assistance from the Community budget for the purposes set out in Article 2 of this Regulation shall continue to be made after 31 December 2013. Amendment 15 Article 4 The contribution for certain measures may amount to up to 100% of the total expenditure. Every effort shall be made to continue the co-financing practice established under the pre-accession assistance and the assistance given over the period 2004-2006 for Slovakia's decommissioning effort as well as to attract co-financing from other sources, as appropriate. The Community contribution for certain measures may amount to up to 100% of the total expenditure. Every effort shall be made to continue the co-financing practice established under the pre-accession assistance and the assistance given over the period 2004-2006 for Slovakia's decommissioning effort as well as to attract co-financing from other sources, as appropriate.

(1) Not yet published in OJ.