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

On 26 November 2008, the European Commission (EC) adopted a Council proposal for a new Directive on nuclear safety. The Proposal, entitled 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 proposal 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.

Whilst offering a consultative role on nuclear energy matters, the European Parliament adopted on 22 April 2009, by a large majority (511 in favour, 116 against and 36 abstentions) the own-initiative report of Gunnar Hökmark (EPP-ED, SE) on the draft Council Directive.

As of the end of May 2009 the proposed Directive was being finalised in Council where the Atomic Questions Group (AQG) has worked since November 2009. Member States reached a political agreement during the Czech Presidency and the Directive was adopted end of  June 2009.

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).

FORATOM Safety and Radiological Protection Task Force

In 2002, FORATOM set up a Common Safety Standards Task Force to respond to the Commission Directive on nuclear safety standards. The Group has since analysed and responded to the revised 2008 safety Directive. Likewise, the Group also covers issues of Radiological Protection, specially the revision of the EU Basic Safety Standards, in collaboration with the ENISS initiative.

ENISS

The European nuclear industry recognises that the liberalisation of the European energy market has led to the deregulation of electricity generation and supply and that diversity of national regulations could seriously distort competition. Undoubtedly, harmonizing regulations is the best way of ensuring that the industry can evolve within a stable legal framework. Consequently, nuclear license holders strongly support WENRA's (Western European Nuclear Regulators Association) work on the harmonization of European safety standards for existing nuclear plants, as well as for waste and decommissioning. This support led to the creation, within FORATOM, of the ENISS initiative, in May 2005, in Brussels .

Mission

The principal mission of ENISS is to bring together decision-makers, operators and specialists from the nuclear industry with regulators on an European level in order to identify and possibly agree upon the scope and substance of harmonized safety standards.

ENISS provides the nuclear industry with the platform that it needs to exchange information on new national and European regulatory activities, to express its views and provide expert input on all aspects related to harmonization of safety standards. Our first task is to establish a common industry position with regards to the safety reference levels that WENRA has proposed. By engaging in constructive debate with WENRA and playing a dynamic role in the process, ENISS also defends the industry's interests in a proactive way.