High level group on nuclear safety and waste management set up to reinforce common approach to nuclear safety
The European Commission is to establish a High Level Group on Nuclear Safety and Waste Management. The group will develop a common understanding and reinforce common approaches in the safety of nuclear installations.
"The aim of the group is to swiftly identify relevant safety issues, ensure coherent action by the Member States authorities and make recommendation on whether any course of action should be taken at EU level – I am confident this will reinforce the safety of Europe's nuclear installations", said Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.
A high degree of nuclear safety and the safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste is one of the key concerns of the European Atomic Energy Community and its Member States. The Commission and Council worked together to respond to these concerns, proposing the creation of a High Level Group and suggesting a possible orientation of its work. The idea is to bring together the senior regulators of the Member States in charge of nuclear safety who would have to agree on priority items to tackle.
“The aim of the group is to swiftly identify relevant safety issues, ensure coherent action by the Member States authorities and make recommendation on whether any course of action should be taken at EU level
Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs
Specific areas of action of the group include the safety and decommissioning of nuclear installations as well as the management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste.
Transparency is another essential aspect of the work of the group The High Level Group will report its agreed approaches and recommendations to the European Parliament and the Council regularly. Transparency on decisions taken will be also ensured for a larger public via a dedicated website.
