European Nuclear Regulators Cite Safety, Radioactive Waste as Priorities

July 21, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS

The report presents recommendations covering nuclear safety, radioactive waste management and transparency issues, acknowledging ENSREG's important contribution to improving communication and information-sharing between European nuclear safety regulators.

Among future actions, ENSREG identified several directions where improvements can be made, including:

• Making full use of international peer review systems and of the results of existing international nuclear safety conventions.
• Promoting the creation and implementation of national radioactive waste and spent fuel management programs.
• Emphasizing the importance of constantly supporting the exchange of operating experiences and communication between regulators.

In order to increase transparency and openness for effective regulation, ENSREG is preparing a good practice guidance for regulators. Moreover, a comprehensive web site on nuclear safety should become available to the general public by the end of 2009.

"I am pleased to note the progress achieved by the regulators in the framework of ENSREG and I call for continuous shared efforts towards developing an advanced EU framework addressing the vital issues of the safety of nuclear installations and the safe management of radioactive waste," said Andris Piebalgs, European Commission (EC) commissioner for energy.

"A major step forward was marked by the recent adoption of the Nuclear Safety Directive, to which the ENSREG has actively contributed with its high-level expertise. I am also pleased to note ENSREG's conclusion about the importance of developing national radioactive waste management programmes."

Andrej Stritar, ENSREG chairman, added, ''Besides conclusions and future steps identified by the Group in relation to nuclear safety, waste management and transparency, the ENSREG framework significantly boosted communication, coordination and cooperation between national regulatory authorities as well as enhanced dialogue with the Commission. This helps to assure a high level of nuclear safety and contributes to its continuous improvement in all EU Member States.''

Background
Following endorsement at the political level, the High Level Group on Nuclear Safety and Waste Management (later renamed European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group) was created by the EC to develop common understanding and reinforce common approaches in the fields of nuclear safety and waste management (Commission Decision C(2007)3393 final of July 17, 2007).

ENSREG is composed of the heads of the national regulatory or nuclear safety authorities within the European Union.

Every two years, ENSREG has to submit a report on its activities to the EC, which then transmits it to the European Parliament and to the European Council, along with comments, where appropriate. This transmission by the EC will take place in September 2009.

The report will be available on the ENSREG web site.

Source: European Commission (EC).