European Council conclusions on nuclear situation in Japan

European Council conclusions on nuclear situation in Japan

The European Council met on 24 and 25 March. On the Japan nuclear situation it said the following:

Recalling that the energy mix is the competence of Member States, the European Council calls for work to be taken forward as a matter of priority on the following aspects:

- the safety of all EU nuclear plants should be reviewed, on the basis of a comprehensive and transparent risk and safety assessment ("stress tests"); the European Nuclear Safety Regulatory Group (ENSREG) and the Commission are invited to develop as soon as possible the scope and modalities of these tests in a coordinated framework in the light of lessons learned from the accident in Japan and with the full involvement of Member States, making full use of available expertise (notably from the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association); the assessments will be conducted by independent national authorities and through peer review; their outcome and any necessary subsequent measures that will be taken should be shared with the Commission and within the ENSREG and should be made public; the European Council will assess initial findings by the end of 2011, on the basis of a report from the Commission;

- the priority of ensuring the safety of nuclear plants obviously cannot stop at our borders; the EU will request that similar "stress tests" be carried out in the neighbouring countries and worldwide, regarding both existing and planned plants; in this regard full use should be made of relevant international organisations;

- the highest standards for nuclear safety should be implemented and continuously improved in the EU and promoted internationally;

- the Commission will review the existing legal and regulatory framework for the safety of nuclear installations and will propose by the end of 2011 any improvements that may be necessary. Member States should ensure the full implementation of the Directive on the safety of nuclear installations. The proposed Directive on the management of spent
fuel and radioactive waste should be adopted as soon as possible . The Commission is invited to reflect on how to promote nuclear safety in neighbouring countries;

- consequences for the world and for the EU need to be closely monitored, paying particular attention to the volatility of energy and commodity prices, in particular in the context of the G20.

Source: Energy DG newsletter