EC Focuses on Common Euro Rules for Nuclear Safety, Waste Management

February 21, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS

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Representatives of the European Commission (EC) and the European High Level Group (HLG) on Nuclear Safety and Waste Management met on Feb. 20 to discuss nuclear energy safety and radioactive waste management issues.

The meeting focused on establishing some common European rules in the nuclear field, ahead of the HLG's third meeting on April 21.

At the April meeting, the HLG is expected to adopt its work programme, as well as the terms of reference for its three working parties, which deal with the safety of nuclear installations, radioactive waste management, and communication and transparency.

The HLG was created by the EC in in July 2007 with the support of various other European Union (EU) institutions to develop a common understanding and reinforce common approaches in the fields of nuclear safety and waste management.

Andris Piebalgs, EC energy commissioner, said he expects that the work of the HLG, which is based on the national experience and competence of its high-level members, will help identify areas where common EU nuclear safety standards would increase safety and public confidence.

"Citizens' main concerns in the field of nuclear energy are nuclear safety and the radioactive waste management. The commission's foremost priorities in the field aim at addressing these concerns. It is essential that the members of the HLG agree on common principles governing nuclear safety, which will ensure a solid basis for the group's future activities," said Piebalgs.

The HLG is composed of senior officials from national regulatory or nuclear safety authorities, who will help the EC in identifying priority safety issues, as well as advise and assist it in progressively developing European rules regarding the safety of nuclear installations and the safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste.

Source: European Commission.