Bulgaria's prime minister Boiko Borisov and Anne Lauvergeon, head of French nuclear group Areva, have discussed the company's possible participation in the construction of a new reactor at Kozloduy nuke plant (NPP) and in the development of the Belene nuclear power project, the government said in a statement on Tuesday.

"During the meeting, the parties made a review of the problems in the field of nuclear security and discussed possibilities for co-operation in this area," the statement said.

A week earlier, French media reported that Russian Atomstroyexport had advised its owner, state power company Rosatom, to exit the Belene project, suggesting that Areva and German company Siemens, which are supplying equipment for the plant, could also end their participation.

According to the report, the Russian state company could also take Bulgaria to court and seek EUR 220 million in damages.