In a decision dated 28 January 2020, the ASN Chairman appointed Mr. Alain Dorison as professional ethics officer. He was also appointed as secularity coordinator for internal alerts in this same decision. He was reappointed for a further three-year term by a resolution dated 30 January 2023. A procedure for collecting and processing whistle-blower alerts from current or former staff, unsuccessful hiring candidates, external and occasional collaborators or co-contractors of ASN was set up pursuant to the “Sapin 2” Act 2016-1691 of 9 December 2016, modified by Act 2022-401 of 21 March 2022 and Decree 2022-1284 of 3 October 2022. It enables the party concerned to submit an internal ethical alert and also to report information concerning a misdemeanour, threat or prejudice to the general interests, or a breach of a law of which they have personal knowledge or which was reported to them in the course of their professional activities. Over and above implementing the obligations recalled above, ASN defined an internal inspection procedure for staff wishing to work in the private sector or to apply to combine activities in order to create or take over a business, in accordance with the Civil Service Transformation Act 2019-828 of 6 August 2019 and Decree 2020‑69 of 30 January 2020. Actions were also taken to raise personnel awareness of the internal professional ethics culture and prevent conflicts of interest. These were for example posting practical documents on-line on the intranet (such as prevention of conflicts of interest and the role of professional ethics oversight of departures to the private sector), the insertion of a module concerning professional ethics rules applicable to ASN staff during training sessions organised for newcomers and a video interview in which the professional ethics coordinator uses a number of examples to describe professional ethics and which actions in a person’s professional life demand particular vigilance. Over the course of 2023, the professional ethics officer was contacted for 23 individual cases, broken down as follows: ∙ 3 opinions on a hiring; ∙ 10 opinions on continuation of a career; ∙ 8 opinions on related activities; ∙ 2 opinions on professional behaviour. Mr. Alain Dorison was also contacted regarding a case in his capacity as secularity coordinator. Financial resources ASN’s financial resources are presented in point 3. In its opinion 2023-AV-0422 of 22 June 2023 relative to the nuclear safety and radiation protection inspection budget in France for the years 2023-2027, ASN asked for its workforce to be increased over the period 2024-2027 by 29 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE), including 12 as of 2024. ASN repeated its request for modification of the scope of its budget and the creation of a single budget programme for nuclear safety and radiation protection under the responsibility of the ASN Chairman. 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 next page). 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 guidance 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. ASN produced a new PSP for the period 2023-2027, available on asn.fr. This plan comes at a time of transition for the fleet of nuclear facilities and activities: the number of new facility projects is increasing and the question of continued operation will be posed for many of the existing facilities. The period is also marked by a change in the international context and the expectations of society, with stronger demands in terms of dialogue and involvement in the decision-making process. The PSP 2023-2027 comprises the following four strategic points: ∙ state and share our short-, medium- and long-term vision of the issues relating to nuclear safety, radiation protection and environmental protection; ∙ enhance knowledge of the risks and, with the other players concerned, promote a culture of nuclear safety and radiation protection; ∙ adapt our oversight to a new context; ∙ make a success of the internal transformations to be more attractive and efficient. 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; ∙ performance indicators for monitoring the effectiveness of action taken; ∙ a periodic review of the system, to foster continuous improvement. Internal communication By reinforcing the internal culture and reasserting the specific nature of ASN’s remit, rallying the staff around the strategic orientations defined for their missions, and developing strong group dynamics: ASN’s internal communication, in the same way as human resources management, endeavours to foster the sharing of information and experience between teams and professions. 2.4 THE CONSULTATIVE AND DISCUSSION BODIES 2.4.1 The High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Safety The TSN Act created the High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Safety (HCTISN), an information, discussion and debating body dealing with the risks inherent in nuclear activities and the impact of these activities on human health, the environment and nuclear safety. ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2023 135 • 02 • The principles of nuclear safety and radiation protection and the regulation and oversight stakeholders 02 05 15 08 11 04 14 06 07 13 AP 03 10 09 12 01
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