NUCLEAR ENERGY POLICY AT EU LEVEL – A STRATEGIC LOOK-AHEADThe main strategic lines of the EU’s nuclear energy policy for the next few years

EU Policy Briefing │ September 2011

EU-Wide Stress Tests to Determine Whether Safety Directive Will be Revised

After Fukushima the Commission brought forward the review of the implementation of the nuclear safety Directive by Member States which had been due in 2014. Now, from June 2011, all 143 nuclear plants in the EU are being re-assessed for safety through so-called 'stress-tests'.

Plants will be assessed for their readiness with respect to: natural disasters including earthquakes, flooding, extreme cold/heat, storms and tornados; man-made failures and actions such as aircraft crashes and explosions close to nuclear power plants; and terrorist attacks.

The results of the stress tests are expected to be made public at the end of 2011 and will be decisive in determining whether the Directive governing nuclear plant safety should be revised now instead of in 2014 as had been foreseen before Fukushima.

Review and Consolidation of Existing Legislation on Ionising Radiation

The EU is preparing to consolidate all legislation governing Basic Safety Standards for workers and the general public against ionizing radiation to bring EU rules into line with those of new International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommendations.

This revision of the Basic Safety Standards would also require Member States to ensure the appropriate education, training and information for training in the medical field, of workers in general, emergency workers and workers potentially exposed to orphan sources of radiation. It would also include requirements for Radiation Protection Experts (RPE) and Officers (RPO) by replacing the current concept of Qualified Expert (QE).

Transport and Disposal of Radioactive Waste

The Commission recently proposed a unified registration system in the EU, to replace the existing separate national ones. All carriers transporting radioactive materials within the EU, from the EU to third countries and vice versa are covered by the new proposal which however does not apply to carriers transporting radioactive materials by air and sea. Meanwhile Member States have until mid-2013 to transpose (into national law) the recently adopted Directive on the disposal of spent fuel and

The EU has always seen nuclear energy as a necessary evil. Post-Fukushima, the Commission continues to support including nuclear in the energy mix but has become more cautious about safety and is emphasising that the decision to include nuclear in the mix lies with Member States. The main EU response to Fukushima was to launch an EU-wide assessment of all plants. Safety requirements will become more stringent and costs will rise. A silver lining for producers is that financial resources may also increase, particularly in the areas of research and training.

EU Issue Tracker • regulatory horizon-scanning and monitoring • www.euissuetracker.com

radioactive waste from nuclear power plants as well as from medicine or research. A novelty of the new rules is to allow for the export of radioactive waste to third countries, under very strict conditions.

The Financial Perspective

The EU makes financial contributions particularly toward decommissioning of nuclear installations and for the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste. The Commission is currently working on updating the Nuclear Illustrative Programme to stimulate investment in more efficient and low-carbon energy infrastructure. Funding is expected to be prioritised toward investments in the safety of existing power plants rather than building new power plants, but the Commission is not opposed to new plants.

The Commission is concerned about a potential lack of properly qualified staff for operating nuclear plants. As a result of this concern, some funding may be channelled into research and training. A study into perspectives for the availability of properly trained staff in sufficient numbers was done this year but was inconclusive; a further one is planned for 2013.

Expected in Late 2011

Roadmap Towards a 2050 Energy PolicyLong-term objectives

for the energy sector insustainability, security of

supply, andcompetitiveness.

Expected inlate 2012

Registration for carriers of radioactive materials.

Single centralised EU system for registration

and authorisation.

Late 2014 or in 2015

Basic Safety Standards.

Transposition into national law by Member States.

Expected in November 2011

Updated Nuclear Illustrative Programme Production targets and required investments.

EU Policy Briefing │ September 2011 Nuclear Energy Policy at EU Level – a Strategic Look-Ahead │ page 2

EU Issue Tracker • regulatory horizon-scanning and monitoring • www.euissuetracker.com

2012 2013 2014

Timeline - Key Policy Initiatives and Instruments:

Expected inDecember 2011

Outcome of the EU Nuclear Installation

Safety Review. Detailed assessment of security standards of EU

nuclear plants.

Expected inDecember 2011

Action Plan on CBRN Security

A review of the EU strategy for chemical, biological, radiological

and nuclear risks.

Requiredin 2013

Transposition: Spent Fuel & Radioactive Waste.

Member States must transpose the Directive

into national law.

Possiblein 2012

Revision of Nuclear Safety Directive.

Depends on outcome of Nuclear Installation

Safety Review.

Expectedin 2013

Report on Training2nd Situation Report on education and training.