The European commission’s first vice-president Frans Timmermans has advised Bulgaria to phase out coal production and said the EU would help Sofia with safety if it decides to go ahead with plans to build two new reactors at the Belene site.

Mr Timmermans, who is in charge of the EU Green Deal*, said the commission has nothing against nuclear energy, but he believed it is more expensive. He said nuclear energy will play a role in the future, but each country must decide for itself whether to use it or not.