The total amount of lending for these activities is limited to EUR 4 billion, of which EUR 3.67 billion has already been allocated. Loans to neighbouring countries are guaranteed by their governments.
Euratom
Euratom is a community constituted under the Euratom Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community. Parties to the Euratom are the European Union member states.
The EU and Euratom share a common institutional framework, a common budget and common financial provisions.
Liabilities of Euratom are covered by the general budget of the EU and Euratom.
Loans to third countries are in addition covered by the Guarantee Fund for external actions.
Funding
The Commission finances Euratom loans by issuing bonds on behalf of Euratom. The terms of the loan mirror those of the related Euratom bond with respect to amount, maturity and coupon payments.
Credit rating
As a separate legal entity, Euratom has its own credit ratings. These are identical to those of the European Union.
| Agency | Rating | Rating agency comments |
|---|---|---|
| FitchRatings | AAA / Outlook stable | Euratom’s rating is closely linked to the EU’s. |
| Moody's | Aaa / Outlook stable |
Euratom's key credit characteristics are identical to those of the EU |
| Standard&Poors | AA / Outlook stable |
Like the EU, EURATOM's debt-service capability benefits from multiple layers of support. Debt-service payments may be made out of the common budget if loan recipients default on their obligations. If budget revenue is insufficient, EURATOM is entitled, through the budgetary mechanism, to draw funds directly from member states until its debt-service obligations are fully met. To date, EURATOM's debt has always been serviced through borrower repayments. The stable outlook reflects that on the EU |
| SCOPE | AAA* / Outlook stable |
Bond issues on behalf of Euratom are backed by the EU budget. |
* unsolicited
Bonds issued by Euratom enjoy a 0 % risk weighting according to Article 118 of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013.
Outstanding Debt
As of 31 May 2020, Euratom has EUR 192.9 million of loans outstanding stemming from projects in Romania (EUR 84.3 million), Bulgaria (EUR 8.6 million) and Ukraine (EUR 100 million).
Current activities
Euratom is currently financing one ongoing project: a EUR 300 million loan to Energoatom dedicated to financing safety improvements at four nuclear power plants in Ukraine.
The first disbursement for this loan, a tranche of EUR 50 million, was made in May 2017 and a second tranche of EUR 50 million was disbursed in July 2018.
The remaining EUR 200 million are expected to be funded and distributed in two equal tranches of EUR 100 million each in the course of 2020, depending on the progress of the project.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is contributing an additional EUR 300 million to the project and Energoatom is financing EUR 800 million itself.
Legal basis
94/179/Euratom: Council Decision of 21 March 1994 amending Decision 77/270/Euratom