Background

All EU Member States generate radioactive wastes, irrespective of whether they have a national nuclear power programme or not. Radioactive waste arises from electricity generation, medical and industrial applications, research or any other source. Existing arrangements for ensuring the safe management of nuclear waste have delivered excellent results. The management of low and intermediate level waste is being taken care of in a sustainable and safe manner with repositories already in operation or expected to be commissioned by 2020 in most EU Member States. Spent fuel and high-level radioactive waste are being stored on an interim basis in surface storage repositories and they could continue to be stored in such a way for a long time, especially taking into account the use of upgraded or replacement facilities.

There is however a willingness to find a permanent solution for the storage of such types of radioactive waste. Research over the past 30 years has demonstrated that geological disposal is a technically feasible solution for the safe long-term storage of high level waste and spent fuel. It is subject to direct disposal and is by far the favourite option.

Political decisions are needed to be able to implement this solution. Public support for nuclear energy will increase if a final solution for radioactive waste management is put in place. It is therefore crucial that sufficient information about the existing solutions be disseminated in an appropriate and open manner. Thus the European Institutions have an important role to play as they can contribute to building a political platform for exchange of views.

Initiatives at EU level

Beginning of 2007, the European Council “suggest[ed] that broad discussion takes place among all relevant stakeholders on the opportunities and risks of nuclear energy.” ENEF ( the European Nuclear Energy Forum) was established in order to provide a platform for open debate “without any taboo” between the nuclear industry, European institutions, EU Member States, financial institutions, trade associations, civil society and other actors.  In parallel the European Commission (EC) also set up the High-Level Group on nuclear safety and waste management (recently renamed ENSREG, European Nuclear Safety Regulators), as proposed in its Nuclear Illustrative Programme of January 2007.

As far as the radioactive waste management issue is concerned, ENEF, divided in different working groups, is in charge of drafting, a “Roadmap to successful implementation of geological disposal in the EU”. 

On 19 July 2011, in Brussels, the European Council adopted the Directive establishing a Community framework for the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste proposed by the EC on 3 November 2010. The Directive establishes a first-ever Community-wide legal framework for the safe and sustainable management of the radioactive waste and spent fuel produced by Europe’s nuclear power plants. The Directive is expected to enter into force at the end of August 2011.

FORATOM Radioactive Waste Management Task Force

The industry, through FORATOM TF on Radioactive Waste Management, follows the discussions taking place in ENSREG, and is actively contributing to the work performed within ENEF Sub-Group on the Implementation of adequate nuclear waste disposal. It participates to the drafting process of the “Roadmap to successful implementation of geological disposal in the EU”. The industry is in charge of briefing MEPs and EC officials on the progress being made towards achieving final disposal of high and intermediate level radioactive waste, which remains an area of public concern.

Links

European Commission DG Energy Nuclear Waste Issue

ENSREG