Europäischer Rechnungshof - European Court of Auditors
EU funding for nuclear safety in non-EU countries – does it work?
Media advisory
For 4 March 2026
EU funding for nuclear safety in non-EU countries – does it work?
- Publication on Wednesday 4 March at 17.00 CET
- Interviews and statements possible on request
On Wednesday 4 March 2026, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) will publish a special report on international nuclear safety cooperation. The report will examine the design of the EU’s framework, the allocation and monitoring of EU financial support, and the results achieved by EU-funded measures to improve nuclear safety in Ukraine, Iran, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Background
The 1986 Chornobyl accident and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 raised major concerns about the safety of nuclear facilities operated in the newly independent states. More recent developments, such as the Fukushima accident in 2011 and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine since 2022, have highlighted new risks. However, demand for energy continues to rise worldwide, and nuclear technologies account for a growing share of supplies. The broad distribution of these technologies – and the powerful effects of radiation if they malfunction – make safety a crucial requirement.
Historically, the EU has been an active promoter of international nuclear safety cooperation. Grants from the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation and loans from Euratom have supported a wide range of activities, from education and training to the provision of expertise and the supply of safety-related equipment, infrastructure and remediation work. Grants worth approximately €300 million were allocated to these forms of cooperation in each of the EU’s long-term budgets for the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 periods. This was in addition to a €300 million loan disbursed to Ukraine between 2017 and 2021.
For the press
- The report and press release will be published on the ECA’s website (eca.europa.eu) at 17:00 CET on Wednesday 4 March.
- The ECA Member responsible for the report is Marek Opioła.
- Interviews are possible, but will depend on time-slot availability.
- For statements and media queries, please contact the ECA press office at press@eca.europa.eu
Press contact
ECA press office: press@eca.europa.eu
Damijan Fišer: damijan.fiser@eca.europa.eu – M: (+352) 621 551 224