Transport
Friday, 07 September 2007 14:27 | 
Background
The transport of nuclear materials is a vital as well as sensitive segment of the nuclear industry, which continues to attract a high level of scrutiny within the European Institutions, reflecting public concerns. The safety record of nuclear transport in Europe is however excellent, with no accident leading to a significant release of radioactive material having taken place. The Commission's November 2004 Proposal for a Directive on the Supervision and Control of Shipments of Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel was approved by Council in November 2006.
DG TREN continues to make progress on a package of further measures covering the harmonisation of transport package approvals, the application of the International Nuclear Event Scale to transport incidents and the enhancement of nuclear transport security. Progress on these issues was summarised in a March 2006 Communication to the Council and EP [ref]. The FORATOM Transport WG is invited to participate as an observer in the bi-annual meetings of the Commission's Standing Working Group (SWG) on the Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials and, as such, is regularly consulted on the progress of EU legislation. The Group meets on a regular basis in Luxembourg to exchange information on the application of the regulations on the international transport of radioactive materials (TRAM) between Member States and outside the European Union. It makes proposals for Commission action in the field of TRAM designed to furnish the basic knowledge required to develop the international regulations.
Latest Developments
FORATOM is participating in a sub-group of the SWG charged with writing the first draft of the 6 th report of the Standing Working Group. The Commission's intention is that the 6 th report should focus in particular on public perception and potential impediments to the free movement of radioactive cargoes.
FORATOM Transport Task Force
Representatives of Foratom member companies with a particular interest in the transport field meet 2 or 3 times a year to discuss EU nuclear transport issues and develop common positions for the European nuclear industry on the transport of radioactive materials. They also co-ordinate the industry's lobbying strategy vis a vis proposals for new EU legislation. In December 2008, the European Commission published a recommendation on the criteria for the export of waste and spent fuel to third countries.
Links
