A sign-up list concerning the closure of Kozloduy nuclear power plant (NPP) units, should be presented to Brussels during an EU energy meeting to be held in February, citizens' committee for Kozloduy NPP protection said.

The list, which has been signed by 518 000 Bulgarian citizens was already tabled in Bulgaria's Parliament, Bulgarian National Radio reported.

During a round table discussion on the future of the power plant, Atanas Semov from the citizens' committee said that the list would help Bulgaria unify its position regarding NPP units closure.

Bulgaria's position has to show that national interests are the reasons behind the country's EU membership.

EU made a big mistake by pushing Bulgaria to close units three and four of Kozloduy NPP by the end of 2006, member of the European Parliament Geoffrey Van Orden said.

Van Orden has long said that the closure of nuclear units might be a mistake. A new partner inspection of the two units was needed, Van Orden said.

The upgrade of units three end four was done according to the standard requirements reached in Finland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) chairman Ivan Yuhnovski said. These countries already make use of similar reactors.