Bulgaria has already started stress tests of its nuclear power plant in Kozloduy – and has been commended by the European Council for that, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov announced in Brussels Friday.

He made it clear that his government wanted to move fast on carrying out stress-tests – which were required by the EU for all nuclear power plants in the Union after the devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake in Japan damaged badly the Fukushima NPP on March 11, 2011.

The stress-tests in the Kozloduy NPP actually started Wednesday, and have been monitored not just by Bulgaria's Nuclear Regulation Agency but also by outside experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Borisov said in Brussels after taking part in the European Council that discussed EU's bailout mechanism, the "Euro-Plus-Pact, and the situations in Libya and Japan.

The Borisov Cabine has insisted that the results from the Kozloduy stress-tests be submitted directly to the European Commission.

"The debate on the use of nuclear energy has now been transferred on whether the reactors have maximum security. The EC should give us the harshest criteria possible – even for natural calamities are currently untypical for Europe – 9.0-magnitude earthquakes, tsunami, or tornadoes," Borisov said.