The European Union's top official for Bulgaria says reopening two shuttered Bulgarian nuclear reactors is "out of the question."
Michael Humphreys said at a Balkans energy conference in Sofia Monday that closing the reactors is part of Bulgaria's membership agreement with the EU. He said all 26 other EU members would have to agree to change Bulgaria's membership deal. He calls that impossible.
Bulgaria was forced to close reactors three and four of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant because of safety concerns.
Energy ministers and other top officials from five Balkan nations - Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, and Serbia - urged the EU in a statement to allow the reactors to temporarily reopen until other electricity sources can be found.
The officials say they fear closing the reactors will create a regional energy shortage.