Damage Compensation and Risk-Informed Regulation: Status and Trends in the EU

摘要

There are clear differences in the perception of the desirability of an activity. The conversion of these perceptions in decisions is called politics. Consequences weigh more than probabilities, the involuntary more than the voluntary, the unfamiliar more than the familiar and the distrusted more than the trusted. Therefore: Risk criteria are an expression of peoples preferences then and there, risk management is highly contextual and risk policies are rarely transferable. As risk assessments methods, risk acceptability and risks differ, standards for too much too soon are likely to be counterproductive. However, harmonisation at an appropriate level is much needed. Else, lacking quantifiable social acceptance criteria, it could become generally accepted "precautionary wisdom" to follow that just because a risk could have been avoided it also has to be avoided. In summary, there is still significant European added value in further research in the area, e.g. on a more non-linear risk characterisation, presentation of results, qualification of risk assessments and uncertainty mapping, costs of accidents, and public participation.