A Community Approach to Nuclear Safety: Consequences for Plant Operation and Decommissioning Activities

摘要

The objective of the proposed new legislation is to try to provide better guarantees of a high level of nuclear safety to all citizens throughout an enlarged European Union, within an ihternationally agreed framework. It will promote the development of a common nuclear safety culture and stimulate the adoption of best practices to implement it. It will require the establishment of appropriate funding mechanisms that will cover all nuclear liabilities that remain at the end of life of nuclear installations and material. It will firmly invite Member States to establish clearly defined programmes for waste management, including a time scale for disposal, and encourage a higher level, more effective and better co-ordinated research across the Union. The proposals are crucial in the debate on the future role of nuclear energy. They are not altering the fundamental principle that the prime responsibility for the safety of a nuclear installation remains with its operator and/or licence holder under the control of its national safety authorities. Therefore, they cannot have any economic consequences on plant operation except the bene-fit of an increased trust by the public.