VILNIUS, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- In the next long-term EU budget in 2021, Lithuania will receive the necessary funding for the country's most important projects, such as the decommissioning of the Ignalina nuclear power plant (NPP), Gunther Oettinger, European Commissioner for budget and human resources, said on Thursday.
"The decommissioning of the Ignalina NPP is a long-term, exceptionally costly and unprecedented project. The decommissioning will not be possible by 2038 unless there is sufficient support from the EU," said Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Svernelis while meeting Oettinger.
"I will try to include a special line in the next financial perspective enabling you to successfully resolve this issue through co-financing," Oettinger was quoted as saying in a statement released by Lithuania's government.
According to Oettinger, it would be unfair to put this financial burden on the shoulders of Lithuania alone.
The commissioner also promised to look more closely into the possibilities of compensating Lithuanian farmers for the losses incurred by them as a result of heavy rains this year.
During their meeting, Skvernelis and Oettinger also discussed EU funding for Rail Baltica project, and the synchronization of the Lithuanian electricity system with continental European networks.
While in Vilnius, Oettinger took part in a parliamentary conference on the future of EU finances, specifically, how to make Lithuania's economy more robust and socially-oriented.
Oettinger said the first draft of the EU's multi-annual financial framework for 2021 to 2027 would be announced in May 2018, at which point the negotiating process among EU member states and the European Parliament would begin.
The European Commission proposals will become the ground for negotiations on the new financial perspective, Oettinger was quoted by local media as saying at the conference.
Oettinger is currently touring the remaining EU member states in order to find their views on the long-term budget beyond 2020.
