Brussels - The European Commission on Tuesday offered Bulgaria an additional 300 million euros (450 million dollars) to help it close down its Soviet-era Kozloduy nuclear power plant.

The offer, which adds to the 550 million euros that the European Union has already given Bulgaria to decommission the plant, will cover costs incurred over the next three years. The sum must now be approved by the European Parliament and by the bloc's member states.

"This investment in a safer and more sustainable Bulgarian energy network illustrates our desire to see Bulgaria fully integrated into the common European energy market. I believe this is an important signal of European solidarity and our determination to treat all member states equally," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in a statement.

In January, at the height of the Russia-Ukraine gas row, the government asked for EU permission to re-start some of the Kozloduy reactors, but the request was turned down by Brussels.

The additional EU funds is also expected to help mitigate the impact of job losses as a result of the plant's closure and support Bulgaria's efforts to improve the country's energy efficiency. (dpa)