European Commission Representative in Bulgaria Michael Humphreys vigorously ruled out the re-opening of units 3&4 of the country's only nuclear power plant.

Humphreys emphasized the re-opening is completely out of the question and the units' closure is part of Bulgaria's accession treaty with the European Union. All demands for change in the treaty will be unacceptable and will need a second ratifying by all EU member states, Humphreys said.

The case is politically impossible, he commented and underlined the issue must be left behind and forgotten once and forever.

Bulgaria's Energy Minister Rumen Ovcharov on the other hand retorted the country would introduce a declaration for the units' re-opening based on Art. 36 of the accession treaty. He said Slovenia and Slovakia have already indicated their support for Bulgaria on the issue. He also fought back the words of Humphreys, claiming a decision on units 3&4 re-opening does not need to be ratified by the EU member states as the case is in the competence of the European Commission.

Another four countries -- Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia and Albania -- have already stated they will sign the declaration. Kosovo has given its verbal consent.

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