Background

Safety is the nuclear industry's top priority. Nuclear installations in the EU have an exemplary safety record which plant operators are committed to maintaining. Nuclear power plants are operated under the strict control of national regulatory authorities. These government agencies enforce state regulations that are based on guidelines and conventions established by international organisations, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Latest Developments

The nuclear accident in the Japanese Fukushima nuclear power station, which happened on March 11 2011, has prompted European decision-makers to make actions to ensure such an accident never happens in Europe. On 15 March 2011 during an extraordinary high level meeting  organised by the European Commission on the  impact of the Japanese accident, Energy Ministers, regulators, experts and nuclear industry representatives agreed on the introduction of targeted safety and risk  assessments (so-called "stress tests") for nuclear power plants in  the Member States. Common safety terms and standards shall be developed and related assessments carried out for the purpose of safety in the light of the events in Fukushima.

In mid-2009 the EU adopted the Directive ‘Setting up a Community Framework for Nuclear Safety’ was the culmination of a lengthy discussion process of which many stakeholders including national regulatory bodies, international organisations, the nuclear industry and the European Nuclear Energy Forum (ENEF).

The general objective of the Directive is: “to achieve, maintain and continuously improve nuclear safety and its regulation in the Community and to enhance the role of the regulatory bodies.” The European nuclear industry, in particular through its contribution to the work of ENEF, was involved in the process.

Following the Fukushima accident, the European Commission indicated it will revisit nuclear safety and propose new legislation in the near-future.

The European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group, ENSREG (formerly the High Level Group) of national regulators in Europe (from all Member States with and without nuclear power) was set up by the European Commission, on 17 July 2007. The creation of the group was proposed by the Commission in its January 2007 draft Nuclear Illustrative Programme and was endorsed by the March European Council. The High-Level group is in charge of analysing matters such as the safety and decommissioning of nuclear installations and management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. (ENSREG).

The European Nuclear Energy Forum (ENEF) the ‘Nuclear Installation Safety Sub-group’ has since the past 2 years worked on issues of safety harmonisation, long term operation and stress-tests.

FORATOM Safety and Radiological Protection Task Force

The FORATOM Safety and Radiological Task Force advises and supports its members in presenting the European nuclear industry’s views on the subject of nuclear safety and radiological protection. The Task Force cooperates with the European and international institutions, and provides information to assist them in making policy decisions on these issues.