SLOVAK Prime Minister Mikulás Dzurinda conceded in parliament on March 5 that it would be "possible in theory" to renegotiate with the European Union the early shutdown of the Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear power station, the news wire TASR wrote.
But he pointed out that it would mean Slovakia would lose all the compensation gained from the decision and face possible financial penalties of tens of millions of euro.
Dzurinda was answering Smer opposition party leader Robert Fico during the regular question time in parliament.
Within negotiations for entry into the European Union, scheduled for May 1, Slovakia has pledged to decommission the two reactors of Bohunice's V1 block in 2006 and 2008.
In return, it will receive compensation totalling €90 million (Sk3.65 billion).
Smer proposes that Slovakia withdraw this pledge in response to the decision of most existing EU members to introduce a transition period before allowing full employment rights to citizens of acceding countries.
Compiled by Beata Balogová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
