Progress with nuclear safety under PHARE and TACIS
In order to gain an overview of the implementation of nuclear safety programmes carried out within the PHARE and TACIS programmes on economic development in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the New Independent States, the European Commission convened a group of high level independent experts at the beginning of 1998. They were given the task of advising the Commission on the nuclear safety policies applied through the PHARE and TACIS programmes. This expert group have produced a report providing recommendations to the Commission on future action in this field. The report begins with an overview of the current nuclear safety situation in the countries concerned. They conclude that significant progress has been made in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and do not foresee major difficulties for applicant countries in reaching, at the time of accession, a level of nuclear safety comparable to that of current EU Member States. Particular problems which still persist are pointed out in the report. In the New Independent States the report concludes that progress has been with regard to nuclear safety, however this has occurred more slowly and with more contrasted results. It recommends that in order to obtain maximum efficiency from EU support, in the light of the independent stance taken by Russia on the issue of safety at its own nuclear power plants, future actions in this field should be part of an overall programme to be discussed with the relevant Russian authorities. It was also recommended that new emphasis should be given to issues other than reactor safety such as fuel cycle, radioactive waste management and safeguards. The report recommends that in spite of difficulties in the dialogue with Russia, support should be maintained and be based on focused programmes and the reinforcement of a safety culture. Other general recommendations relate to the need to move away from unilateral assistance to effective cooperation, the extension of the scope of assistance to other issues than safety, such as radioactive waste management and the promotion of collaborative R&D projects between the EU and the countries concerned.