SEIMAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA RESOLUTION ON THE POSITION OF LITHUANIA IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION IN T

SEIMAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA RESOLUTION ON THE POSITION OF LITHUANIA IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION IN THE ENERGY CHAPTER AND THE AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL ENERGY STRATEGY NECESSARY FOR ENSURING SUCCESSFUL ACCESSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION 14 May 2002, No. IX-882 Vilnius The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania: having regard to Lithuania's aspiration to become a member of the European Union in 2004 and conclude accession negotiations in 2002; acknowledging the necessity to set the conditions for the closure of Units 1 and 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant in line with Lithuania's timetable for accession to the European Union; taking into account the experience and results of the Donors' Conference of 20 June 2000 "Decommissioning of Unit 1 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant" in mobilising assistance; holding in high regard the call of the European Parliament on the Member States of the European Union to demonstrate solidarity with Lithuania and increase financial assistance for the decommissioning of Units 1 and 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant and for dealing with other related consequences; expressing its approval for the 20-21 November 2001 conclusions of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of the European Union and Lithuania providing for a shared responsibility for the decommissioning of Units 1 and 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant; concurring with the recognition of the European Commission that the burden of closure of Units 1 and 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant is a common concern for Lithuania and the European Union; welcoming the proposal of the European Commission to allocate additional financing for the period 2004-2006 through a separate budgetary line and its recognition that the decommissioning of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant is a heavy long-term burden for Lithuania's economy; re-affirming that additional financing from the budget of the European Union is necessary for the closure of Units 1 and 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant and for addressing other issues related to the closure, for the re-establishment and upgrading of energy generation capacities of Lithuania as well as for interconnection of its electricity market with the electricity market of the European Union; being aware of the importance of the commitments of the Republic of Lithuania to co-finance, in accordance with its ability, the closure of Units 1 and 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, and to address other related problems; emphasising the importance of high nuclear safety standards and the contribution of Lithuania and the international community to ensuring nuclear safety of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant; seeking full integration of Lithuania's energy system into the system of the European Union, adequate security of energy supply and upgrading of energy capacities; taking into consideration that the technologically feasible time period for the decommissioning of Unit 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant could be between 2009 and 2015 and recognising a possibility to provide in the National Energy Strategy for an early closure of Unit 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, taking into account nuclear safety, financial and social circumstances; declaring that Lithuania is committed to the key provisions of the National Energy Strategy adopted on 5 October 1999 and views the closure of Units 1 and 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant as a highly complex and unique challenge which is inevitable and will also have negative social and economic consequences for the contemporary society; has resolved as follows: Article 1 To propose to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to negotiate with the Member States of the European Union and the European Commission the terms for the closure of Unit 2, taking into consideration the proposals of the European Union on the terms and financial conditions of the final shutdown of Unit 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, and continue negotiations in respect of the financial and other related conditions of the closure of Units 1 and 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. To propose to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to report regularly to the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on the process of negotiations and their results. Article 2 To propose to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to seek substantial long-term financial support from the European Union for the closure of Units 1 and 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant with provisions for a part of the European Union funds to be allocated exclusively for the needs of the closure of Units 1 and 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, inter alia for the maintenance of Units 1 and 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Plant after their shutdown, dismantling of the units, radioactive waste management, dealing with social and economic consequences of the decommissioning, upgrading of the existing facilities and establishment of new electricity generating capacities, and addressing the environmental protection issues resulting from the closure of Units 1 and 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. Article 3 To propose to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to submit to the Seimas an amending provision of the National Energy Strategy to the effect that Lithuania will consider a possibility of becoming, in future, a state producing a safe nuclear energy. Article 4 To propose to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to submit to the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania as early as in the second quarter of 2002 a draft Resolution of the Seimas on the amendments of the National Energy Strategy setting the terms and conditions of the closure of Unit 2 and to submit to the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania a draft law on the additional employment and social guarantees for the employees of the State enterprise " Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant" laid off as a result of its closure. CHAIRMAN OF THE SEIMAS ARTŪRAS PAULAUSKAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA