REGIONAL APPROACH TO REACH HARMONIZATION IN RADIATION PROTECTION: EXAMPLE EURATOM DIRECTIVES. THE REVISION OF THE EURATOM BASIC SAFETY STANDARDS

摘要

The European Union currently comprises 27 Member States. Ever since the signature of the treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) in 1957, the Community has played a leading role in setting radiation protection standards. These standards are of a binding nature and the European Commission has important powers of enforcement. This paper briefly explains the role of different EU institutions, the specific provisions under Chapter 3 "Health and Safety" of the EURATOM Treaty for the establishment of the Euratom Basic Safety Standards and the current legal 'acquis'. The European Commission has undertaken a fundamental revision of the Basic Safety Standards as well as a consolidation of the acquis. Progress with this revision, its relationship to the new 1CRP recommendations and with the ongoing revision of international standards (IAEA) as well as a few important topical issues are discussed.