EU citizens want 'robust' nuclear safety standards

Nuclear safety standards must be harmonised across Europe to promote their implementation in 'wider EU neighbourhood', says Vladko Panayotov.

By Vladko Panayotov MEP

03 Apr 2014

Ensuring robust levels of nuclear safety is of utmost importance to Europeans citizens since the impacts of nuclear incidents know no borders. As new investments or lifetime extensions of nuclear power plants are envisioned to help meet growing energy demand, to improve security of supply, decrease import dependence and decarbonise the economy, investment in the safety and security of nuclear installations will have to follow accordingly. The current revision of the nuclear safety directive (NSD) is of crucial importance as an instrument to build upon lessons from the Fukushima disaster, as are the EU stress tests, as well as the latest international developments in the nuclear sector with a view to improving safety.

The revised NSD offers a number of ambitious proposals for enhancing safety standards and nuclear safety culture across the EU. Aiming to ensure the level of nuclear safety is upheld to the highest possible standards regardless of the power plant's age. The best framework to improve safety of nuclear installations is through binding nuclear safety standards and EU-wide safety objectives covering all stages of the lifecycle of nuclear installations. It is crucially important to promote the highest safety standards for nuclear installations globally using state-of-the-art technological, regulatory, and operational practices and improving these whenever the technology and knowhow progresses.

"Enforcing the best standards and practices in the EU will promote the implementation of these standards in the wider EU neighbourhood and strengthen collaboration in safety and security internationally"

Independence, openness and transparency for nuclear regulatory authorities are crucial in order to guarantee safety and improve public confidence in nuclear power. These should go hand in hand with better monitoring, better peer review processes and with enhanced possibilities for the public to participate in the environmental impact assessments and licensing process linked to nuclear installations. Topical peer reviews of installations every six years and regular self-assessments supported by the commission will ensure that nuclear power plants are carefully monitored and that any possible safety gaps are eliminated and prevented.

The highest quality of regulatory oversight is just as important for ensuring nuclear safety as the proper application of the highest technical safety standards. Thus, reinforcing the independence and resources of the national competent regulatory authorities is paramount. The regulator should be given effective legal independence as well as sufficient budgetary, administrative, human capital and capacity to exercise its powers, regulatory competencies and responsibilities with impartiality and transparency.

As the primary responsibility for the safety of nuclear installations lies within the hands of the license holders under the supervision of the national regulator, it should be ensured that the responsibilities and obligations of the license holders are clearly defined and enforced and that license holders are providing and maintaining adequate financial and human resources with the appropriate qualifications, expertise and skills. The requirements for more transparency in communication, accountability to the public and for regular assessments of the design basis of nuclear installations through a periodic safety review would therefore be fundamental to improving nuclear safety, on-site emergency preparedness and response, and to achieving the overarching nuclear safety objectives.

Last but not least, it is in our best interest that safety is pursued in neighbouring countries as well. Enforcing the best standards and practices in the EU will promote the implementation of these standards in the wider EU neighbourhood and strengthen collaboration in safety and security internationally.

We should ensure that these revised and improved nuclear safety standards are applicable in the same way everywhere to ensure the highest safety of nuclear installations. This is a responsibility not just for the EU but for the world, for the present generations and generations to come.