Bulgaria will ask the European Union for an additional 280 million euros to finance the closure of four reactors at its Soviet-designed Kozloduy nuclear power plant as it gears up for entry in 2007, it said on Thursday. The Balkan state's new cabinet has criticised the former government for agreeing with Brussels to decommission four of Kozloduy's six blocks by the end of next year, Reuters said. On Thursday it granted a mandate to Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin and Economy Minister Rumen Ovcharov to lead talks with the EU's executive Commission for additional financial support. "Bulgaria has the need and capacity to use additional funds of 280 million euros, which would eventually be extended by the European Union because of the closures. This is the position the two ministers are going to defend," it said in a statement carried by Reuters. Neither ministry would immediately comment on the decision. Eager to gain membership, Saxe-Coburg's 2001-2005 government shut down blocks 1 and 2 at Kozloduy in 2003 and agreed to mothball 4 and 5 by the end of next year. --More 2206 Local Time 1906 GMT
