The EU has always seen nuclear energy as a necessary evil but is becoming more cautious about safety after Fukushima. The main EU response was to launch stress tests of all 143 nuclear plants to determine if safety standards need revising. The results of these tests will help decide if the Nuclear Safety Directive should be updated ahead of schedule. The EU is also consolidating legislation on radiation protection and proposing a unified system for transporting radioactive materials. Funding may increase for nuclear safety and training, but will prioritize existing plants over new ones.

1. EU Policy Briefing │ September 2011
NUCLEAR ENERGY POLICY AT EU LEVEL – A STRATEGIC LOOK-AHEAD
The main strategic lines of the EU’s nuclear energy policy for the next few years
The EU has always seen nuclear energy as a necessary evil. Post-Fukushima, the Commission
continues to support including nuclear in the energy mix but has become more cautious about
safety and is emphasising that the decision to include nuclear in the mix lies with Member States.
The main EU response to Fukushima was to launch an EU-wide assessment of all plants. Safety
requirements will become more stringent and costs will rise. A silver lining for producers is that
financial resources may also increase, particularly in the areas of research and training.
EU-Wide Stress Tests to Determine Whether Safety Directive Will be Revised
After Fukushima the Commission brought forward the review of the implementation of the nuclear
safety Directive by Member States which had been due in 2014. Now, from June 2011, all 143 nuclear
plants in the EU are being re-assessed for safety through so-called 'stress-tests'.
Plants will be assessed for their readiness with respect to: natural disasters including earthquakes,
flooding, extreme cold/heat, storms and tornados; man-made failures and actions such as aircraft
crashes and explosions close to nuclear power plants; and terrorist attacks.
The results of the stress tests are expected to be made public at the end of 2011 and will be decisive in
determining whether the Directive governing nuclear plant safety should be revised now instead of in
2014 as had been foreseen before Fukushima.
Review and Consolidation of Existing Legislation on Ionising Radiation
The EU is preparing to consolidate all legislation governing Basic Safety Standards for workers and the
general public against ionizing radiation to bring EU rules into line with those of new International
Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommendations.
This revision of the Basic Safety Standards would also require Member States to ensure the appropriate
education, training and information for training in the medical field, of workers in general, emergency
workers and workers potentially exposed to orphan sources of radiation. It would also include
requirements for Radiation Protection Experts (RPE) and Officers (RPO) by replacing the current
concept of Qualified Expert (QE).
Transport and Disposal of Radioactive Waste
The Commission recently proposed a unified registration system in the EU, to replace the existing
separate national ones. All carriers transporting radioactive materials within the EU, from the EU to
third countries and vice versa are covered by the new proposal which however does not apply to
carriers transporting radioactive materials by air and sea. Meanwhile Member States have until mid-
2013 to transpose (into national law) the recently adopted Directive on the disposal of spent fuel and
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2. EU Policy Briefing │ September 2011 Nuclear Energy Policy at EU Level – a Strategic Look-Ahead │ page 2
radioactive waste from nuclear power plants as well as from medicine or research. A novelty of the
new rules is to allow for the export of radioactive waste to third countries, under very strict conditions.
The Financial Perspective
The EU makes financial contributions particularly toward decommissioning of nuclear installations and
for the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste. The Commission is currently working on
updating the Nuclear Illustrative Programme to stimulate investment in more efficient and low-carbon
energy infrastructure. Funding is expected to be prioritised toward investments in the safety of existing
power plants rather than building new power plants, but the Commission is not opposed to new plants.
The Commission is concerned about a potential lack of properly qualified staff for operating nuclear
plants. As a result of this concern, some funding may be channelled into research and training. A study
into perspectives for the availability of properly trained staff in sufficient numbers was done this year
but was inconclusive; a further one is planned for 2013.
Expected
Timeline - Key Policy Initiatives and Instruments: in 2013
Report on Training
2nd Situation Report on
Expected in education and training.
Late 2011
Expected in
November 2011 Roadmap Towards
a 2050 Energy Policy Possible Required
Long-term objectives in 2012 in 2013
Updated Nuclear
Illustrative Programme for the energy sector in
sustainability, security of Revision of Nuclear Transposition: Spent
Production targets and Safety Directive. Fuel & Radioactive Waste.
required investments. supply, and
competitiveness. Depends on outcome Member States must
of Nuclear Installation transpose the Directive
Safety Review. into national law.
2012 2013 2014
Expected in
Expected in Expected in late 2012
December 2011 December 2011 Late 2014
Registration for carriers or in 2015
Outcome of the EU Action Plan on CBRN of radioactive materials.
Nuclear Installation Security Single centralised EU Basic Safety
Safety Review. A review of the EU system for registration Standards.
Detailed assessment of strategy for chemical, and authorisation. Transposition into
security standards of EU biological, radiological national law by
nuclear plants. and nuclear risks. Member States.
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