ASN Report 2020

interview in which the professional ethics coordinator uses a few examples to explain professional ethics and which professional activities require particular vigilance. Financial resources ASN’s financial resources are presented in point 3. In its opinion of 23 April 2019, ASN considers that the creation of a single budget programme specifically for the regulation and oversight of safety and radiation protection is the current priority in order to: ∙ on the one hand, make all the efforts made by the State on behalf of the regulation and oversight of nuclear safety and radiation protection more legible and more visible both to Parliament and to the public, at a time when the importance of the nuclear sector in energy policy is being reaffirmed; ∙ on the other, enable ASN to improve how it controls and optimises the resource devoted to the technical expert assessments it orders, as is done abroad in the nuclear field and in France with regard to industrial risks. ASN management tools ASN’s management tools are more specifically evaluated during peer review missions (Integrated Regulatory Review Service – IRRS), devoted to analysis of the French system of regulation and oversight of nuclear safety and radiation protection (see box below). The Multi-Year Strategic Plan The Multi-Year Strategic Plan (PSP), produced under the authority of the ASN Commission, develops ASN’s strategic lines for a period of several years. It is presented annually in an operational orientation document that sets the year’s priorities for ASN, and which is in turn adapted by each entity into an annual action plan that is subject to periodic monitoring. This three-level approach is an essential part of ASN’s organisation and management. Available on asn.fr , the PSP for the period 2018-2020 comprises the following five strategic points: ∙ reinforce implementation of a graded and efficient approach to our regulation and oversight; ∙ improve the running of technical investigations; ∙ reinforce the efficiency of our actions in the field; ∙ consolidate our operation to the benefit of regulation and oversight; ∙ promote the French and European safety approach on the international stage. In the current context, this plan remains particularly valid and requires further action on each of the points recalled above. For example, the Covid-19 pandemic requires acceleration of the ASN’s digital transformation actions, which naturally fall under point 4 of the PSP. This is why the PSP was extended for a further two years. At the end of 2021, ASN will initiate a strategic review for the drafting of a new PSP for a five-year period (2023-2027). The ASN internal management system Within ASN, there are many forums for discussion, coordination and oversight. These bodies, supplemented by the numerous cross-disciplinary structures, reinforce the safety culture of its staff through sharing of experience and the definition of coherent common positions. Quality management system To guarantee and improve the quality and effectiveness of its actions, ASN defines and implements a quality management system inspired by the international standards of the IAEA and the International Standard Organisation (ISO). This system is based on: ∙ an organisation manual containing organisation notes and procedures, defining the rules to be applied for each task; ∙ internal and external audits to check rigorous application of the system’s requirements; ∙ listening to stakeholders; ASN international audits (IRRS missions) The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) missions are designed to improve and reinforce the efficiency of national nuclear regulatory frameworks, while recognising the ultimate responsibility of each State to ensure safety in this field. These missions take account of regulatory, technical and strategic aspects, make comparisons with IAEA Safety Standards and, as applicable, take account of best practices observed in other countries. These audits are the result of the European Nuclear Safety Directive which requires a peer review mission every ten years. Record of missions in France 2006: ASN hosted the first IRRS mission concerning all the activities of a safety regulator. 2009: IRRS follow-up mission. 2014: new review mission extended to include management of security/safety interfaces. 2017: follow-up mission in October to assess the steps taken following the review carried out at the end of 2014, with the following findings and recommendations: ཛྷ implementation of measures to address 15 of the 16 recommendations; ཛྷ achievement of significant progress in improving its management system; ཛྷ drafting of general policy principles including safety culture aspects in training, self-evaluation and management; ཛྷ achievement of efficiency gains across all activities; ཛྷ need to continue improving resources management to ensure that they enable future challenges to be met, more particularly the periodic safety reviews, the Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) operating life extension, the graded approach to issues, plus new responsibilities, such as supervision of the supply chain and the security of radioactive sources. The reports for the 2006, 2009, 2014 and 2017 IRRS missions are available for consultation on asn.fr . ASN considers that the IRRS missions make a significant contribution to the international safety and radiation protection system. ASN is thus closely involved in hosting missions in France and it was the first safety regulator to have hosted two full IRRS missions, including the follow-up missions. It is also an active player, as was the case in 2019 in Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada and Norway. 136 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2020 02 – THE PRINCIPLES OF NUCLEAR SAFETY AND RADIATION PROTECTION AND THE REGULATION AND OVERSIGHT STAKEHOLDERS