Estonia: Foreign Assistance for Nuclear Facilities

THE PHARE CROSS BORDER CO-OPERATION PROGRAMME (CBC) IN THE BALTIC STATES
The PHARE program was originally established in 1989 to provide aid for Poland and Hungary. Since then it has expanded to include much of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. In the area of nuclear energy, PHARE concentrates its efforts on improving the operational safety of nuclear power plants and the training of their operators. As of 1996, ECU87.3 million ($111.6 million as of 1 January 1996) had been committed to PHARE projects. In 1994, ECU5 million ($5.58 million as of 1 January 1994) of PHARE funding was reallocated to the EBRD Nuclear Safety Account.[1,2] PHARE is currently the main channel for the European Union's financial and technical cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. At an Agenda 2000 conference, the European Commission proposed that PHARE focus on preparing candidate countries for European Union membership.[3] Estonia's participation in PHARE dates back to 1994, when the European Parliament initiated the PHARE Cross Border Co-operation Programmes.[4] 
Sources:
[1] Source Book: Soviet Designed Nuclear Power Plants in Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Armenia, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, and Bulgaria, 4th edition, (Washington D.C.: Nuclear Energy Institute, 1996), p. 33. 
[2] "EU Nuclear Safety Programs in Former USSR," FBIS-TEN-97-246, 3 September 1997.
[3] "The Phare Cross Border Co-operation Programme (CBC) in the Baltic States: Context and Overview," European Union Web Site, http://europa.eu.int/comm/.../pt/cbc/baltics/index.htm.
[4] "Implementation of the Phare Cross Border Co-operation (CBC) Programme Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania," European Union Web Site, http://europa.eu.int/comm/.../progress.htm.{Entered 10/19/00 IPZ}

PHARE DEVELOPMENTS:

11/12/2002: ESTONIA SIGNS PHARE AID AGREEMENT

On 12 November 2002, Finance Minister Harri Õunapuu, and Head of the European Commission Delegation in Estonia John Kjaer signed a Financing Memorandum under the EU Phare 2002 program in the amount of 395 million kroons (about $27 million). The assistance money will support 19 projects in Estonia, which will aim to expand and enhance the work of the public sector. Part of this funding will be used to improve the administrative capacity of the Estonian customs administration.

["European Union to support Estonia's preparations to join the EU with 400 million kroons," 12 November 2002, Delegation of the European Commission Web Site, http://www.euroopaliit.ee/.] {Entered 2/28/03 AI}

1999: PHARE CURRENT PROJECTS
Nordic Investment Bank, a PHARE participant, provided EKK78.2 million ($5 million as of 24 December 1999) to renovate the Sillamae radioactive waste storage site. The project is a part of a EKK192 million ($12.4 million as of 24 December 1999) agreement signed in December 1999 by Estonian Finance Minister Siim Kallas and European Commission delegation head Arhi Palosuo.[1] This followed a 17 June 1999 announcement by the bank that it intends to continue funding future projects at Sillamae.[2] A 1999 document by the Estonian Ministry of the Environment noted that the following existing projects concerning radioactive waste would be further developed in the coming years: Concept and Design of Reshaping and Covering the Sillamae Radioactive Tailings Pond, Particularly in Relation to Dam Stability Problems (PHARE Multi-Country Programme); Work plan for Radiation Protection Development in Estonia (IAEA project); Dismantling of the Liquid Waste Treatment Facility at Paldiski, Estonia (PHARE project); Feasibility Study on Final Repository of Radioactive Waste (IAEA project).[3]
Sources:
[1]  Headline News (Russia), 24 December 1999; in "Estonia To Get 192 Mln Kroons From EC," FBIS Document FTS19991224000871. 
[2]  Hufvudstadsbladet (Internet version), 17 June 1999; in "Nordic Countries Selection," FBIS Document FTS19990628001651.
[3] "Nuclear safety and radiation protection," Estonian Ministry of The Environment Web Site, http://www.envir.ee/eng/...copy(10).html.{Entered by IPZ on 2/27/2001}
 
1998: PROJECT ON WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN ESTONIA COMPLETED 
In 1996 the Haskoning Company (Netherlands) received ECU394,884 ($499,252 as of 20 August 1996) from PHARE to carry out environmental projects at a number of Estonian facilities, including Silmet. Work commenced on 20 August 1996 and was completed on 20 December 1998.[1] PHARE also supports gathering data on liquidating uranium mines for its East-European database and feasibility studies for the final stage of liquidating the Sillamae waste site.[2] 
Sources:
[1] "Implementation of the Phare Cross Border Co-operation (CBC) Programme Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania," European Union Web Site, http://europa.eu.int/comm/.../progress.htm.
[2] "Nuclear safety and radiation protection," Estonian Ministry of The Environment Web Site, http://www.envir.ee/eng/...copy(10).html.{Entered 2/27/2001 IPZ}
 
1994: ESTONIA JOINS PHARE CROSS BORDER CO-OPERATION PROGRAMME
In 1994 Estonia became one of five countries involved with the PHARE Cross Border Co-operation Programmes and receives assistance through several sub-programs. Project ES 9407-01-01, entitled Hazardous Waste, with a budget of ECU2,399,977 ($2.6 million as of 1 January 1994) will implement a hazardous waste management system in Estonia. The project encompasses technical assistance (such as environmental and safety studies, financial planning, engineering and management support, and capacity building), the construction of a transfer station in Tallinn, and equipment for this station. In addition, a transfer and reloading station and a radioactive waste site will be constructed in Ida-Viru.
["Implementation of the Phare Cross Border Co-operation (CBC) Programme Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania," European Union Web Site, http://europa.eu.int/comm/.../progress.htm.]{Entered 2/27/2001 IPZ}
  
PALDISKI INTERNATIONAL EXPERT REFERENCE GROUP (PIERG)
In 1994 the IAEA helped establish PIERG to support negotiations between the Republic of Estonia and the Russian Federation concerning the transfer of control over the Paldiski facility to Estonian authorities.[1] PIERG members include the IAEA, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Russia, Sweden, and the United States.[3] Since 30 September 1995, PIERG has concentrated on how to safely decommission the facility and finance the implementation of individual tasks within the decommissioning process.[1] The United States has provided some financial assistance and expertise on radiation issues. The US Department of Energy has cooperated with Estonia on a limited number of technical tasks. The US role in PIERG will continue through a technical workshop on risk assessment, a training program, and mutual cooperation on decontamination and decommissioning.[3] In 1998 the United States provided $2 million, as a part of its security and military assistance program with the Baltic States, for nuclear decontamination of the facility.[5] During a meeting of the Council of the Baltic Sea States Committee of Senior Officials Working Group on Nuclear and Radiation Safety on 26 January 1995, Henno Putnik of the Estonian company ALARA (which manages the Paldiski facility) and PIERG Chairman Mr. Snihs informed the working group that the Paldiski reactors had been sealed in a sarcophagus, because total decommissioning was too expensive.[2] Since 26 January 1995, the facility has undergone a few significant improvements under PIERG: the safety situation has improved; a strategic plan for decommissioning has been established; a radiological survey of the site has been completed; a new interim storage facility for treated waste has been constructed; most of the stored liquid and solid waste has been treated. Among the most important developments are the enhanced competence of the decommissioning staff, both on the operator and regulatory side, and the initiation of steps to establish a new safety culture within the operating organization.[1] 
Sources:
[1] Arnold Bonne and Candace Chan-Sands, "Technology Transfer & The Management of Radioactive Waste," IAEA Web Site, http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/.../article8.html.
[2] "Status Report of the Chairman," Proceedings of the meeting of Council of the Baltic Sea States Committee of Senior Officials Working Group on Nuclear and Radiation Safety, Novgorod, Russia, 26 January 1995, Baltinfo Web Site, http://www.baltinfo.org/Docs/ministerial/15/cso5n/htm.
[3] Debra Bender Kahl, "Three INEL Experts Help in International Effort to Decommission the Russian Version of Naval Reactors Facility," INEL News, http://www.inel.gov/resources/.../6-27-95/6-27-05.html, 27 June 1995.
[4] "Foreign Experts are Satisfied with progress in Paldiski," Estonian Review online edition, http://www.vm.ee/eng/review/1995/95081319.html, No. 33, 13-19 August 1995. 
[5] "Fact Sheet: U.S.-Baltic Relations," Office of the White House Press Secretary, 16 January 1998; in http://www.fas.org/man/nato/national/98011608_wpo.html. {Entered by IPZ on 10/4/00}