EXPERTS believe that Kozlodui's units 3 and 4 cannot be made safe, Danish ambassador Christian Faber-Rod has said.

He made the remarks during a news conference on Monday on the priorities and perspectives of the Danish presidency of the European Union, which started on July 1.

"I am not an expert but what I keep on hearing is that units 1 to 4 cannot be made safe," Faber-Rod said.

"I am not expert enough to say whether we are overreacting or not."

The European Commission insists on the decommissioning of units 1 and 2 of the Kozlodui nuclear power plant by end of 2002 and units 3 and 4 by 2006.

Faber-Rod said the Danish government did not have a different stance from that of the other EU member states.

"We want the highest possible security for the nuclear facility," he said and added that his country believed that the Kozlodui argument would be over by December.

"We want to make sure you produce power safely, no matter in what way," he said, adding that Bulgaria wasted energy and was spending four times more energy than the other European countries.

Ironically, in the press room where the briefing took place, posters reading "Kozlodui - Security" and "Kozlodui - Our Future Now" were left hanging from an earlier news conference.

Faber-Rod expressed the hope of his government that both sides would find a solution through which Bulgaria understood that the EU was not against nuclear power and that the country would continue upgrading units 5 and 6 to make them as safe as possible.

He reiterated the priorities of the Danish presidency of the EU, the highest of which is to carry on with the enlargement process and bring it to conclusion for "all ships sailing in the river" that are ready for membership.

"Those who are not ready, will not feel alone there in the water."

He said EU members would inspire them to continue their preparations.

"We just want you to keep up the good work. On the one hand, to finish negotiations on the various chapters, on the other hand, to implement them, put them to work."

Faber-Rod emphasised that the Danish presidency will work very hard for transparency in the decision-making processes.

"We hope to come up with a declaration by members and candidates that he enlargement process will continue."

He said financing for Bulgaria and Romania would depend on annual progress reports by the EC. It is expected that a roadmap will be prepared for both countries and probably more money will be poured into them.

"There are good reasons for Bulgaria's own deadlines," Faber-Rod said of Bulgaria's aspiration to finish negotiations at the end of 2003 and achieve accession by the end of 2006.

"I do not think there is anybody in the EU that worries that if you come into the union, you will cause instability. The economy may be weak but the future for the economy is positive."