A nuclear safety strategy for the NIS and candidate countries

The European Commission has adopted a new communication on nuclear safety in the candidate countries and the Newly Independent Sates (NIS). In the document, the Commission proposes to streamline the delivery of assistance in this area and presents its overall approach to pol...

The European Commission has adopted a new communication on nuclear safety in the candidate countries and the Newly Independent Sates (NIS).

In the document, the Commission proposes to streamline the delivery of assistance in this area and presents its overall approach to policy. It gives examples of recent achievements and responds to requests made by the European Parliament and the Court of Auditors.

The Commission recently reached agreements with Lithuania, Bulgaria and Slovakia to close reactors that cannot be upgraded and has contributed to solving problems at the Chernobyl plant in the Ukraine. In addition it has provided on-site assistance to 14 plants in the NIS and Bulgaria as well as to the nuclear regulatory authorities in these countries.

Now the Commission aims to support the candidate countries and NIS to:

- improve operational safety and enhance regulatory systems;

- shut down and decommission, as early as possible, reactors that cannot be upgraded to internationally accepted levels of safety at a reasonable cost and to replace them by alternative energy sources and more efficient energy use and,

- to upgrade nuclear plants of more recent design.

'In the NIS the approach is to concentrate on supporting the development of an appropriate safety culture at the level of the regulator and of plant operators,' says the Commission. It is also seeking closer cooperation with the Russian authorities and is prepared to considered Euratom loans, 'where possible and appropriate,' as Russia will continue to supply an important part of its energy needs form nuclear power. These loans would be invested in upgrading the safety of nuclear plants and the completion of reactors to western safety levels 'in the context of an overall agreed nuclear energy and safety policy,' explains the Commission.

The Joint Research Centre will also be used for technical follow up of projects, for dissemination of Tacis, Phare project results and in the area of control of fissile material.