2 The European framework for ASN’s international relations European harmonisation of nuclear safety and radiation protection principles and standards has always been a priority for ASN. In this context, ASN participates actively in exchanges between the national nuclear safety and radiation protection authorities of the Member States. 2.1 The EURATOM Treaty and its working groups The Treaty instituting the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) was signed on 25 March 1957 and constitutes the primary source of law in the field. It allowed the harmonised development of provisions allowing a strict regime of oversight for nuclear safety and security and radiation protection. In 2002, in its jurisprudence C-29/99, the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU) recognised that the Euratom Community shared competences with the Member States in the field of nuclear safety, going beyond simply the fields of radiation protection and information about emergency situations. ASN experts participate in the work of the EURATOM Treaty Committees and working groups in the following areas: ∙Radiation Protection Basic Standards (Article 31); ∙verification and monitoring of environmental radioactivity (Article 35); ∙information concerning the monitoring of radioactivity in the environment (Article 36); ∙notifications relative to radioactive effluent discharges (Article 37). The Article 31 expert group met twice in June and November 2024. It was informed of and consulted on the work of the European Commission (EC) notably with regard to: ∙the SAMIRA strategy (Strategic Agenda for Medical Ionising Radiation Application) and in particular the EU-JUST-CT projects, with the publication of RP 205 (EC Radiation Protection Guide No. 205), SIMPLERAD (study on implementation of the legal bases of Euratom and the EU with regard to the therapeutic uses of radiopharmaceuticals), MARLIN (Harmonising Incident Learning Systems for Enhanced Patient Safety in Radiology), Equipment Study (requirements applicable to medical equipment with respect to oversight and monitoring of patient exposure to ionising radiation); ∙the report drawn up on the checks performed on the obligations linked to radio- active sources; ∙EC work on construction materials. The expert group also issued an opinion on the clinical peer reviews on the basis of which the Commission published recommendations in April 2024 (2024/1112/ Euratom). The Commission also published recommendations on the radon dose coefficients (2024/440/Euratom of 2 February 2024) based on the opinion of the expert group consulted in 2023. The expert group also organised a workshop in November 2024 on the practical use of the new radon coefficients, at which France was able to share its experience. A scientific seminar was also organised in November 2024 to review progress and experiences in the justification, optimisation, implementation and evaluation of health screening using ionising radiation. At the seminar, ASN presented its work on digital mammography and on the place of tomosynthesis in breast cancer screening. 2.2 The European Euratom Directive on the Safety of Nuclear Facilities The Council 2009/71/Euratom Directive of 25 June 2009, revised in 2014 following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi NPP (Japan), establishes a Community framework to ensure nuclear safety within the European Atomic Energy Community and to encourage the Member States to guarantee a high level of nuclear safety (see “Regulation” section on asn.fr). It notably makes provision for greater powers and independence for the national safety regulators, reinforces requirements regarding transparency, sets an ambitious safety objective for all Member States (derived from the baseline safety requirements produced by WENRA), establishes a European peer review system for safety topics and requires periodic safety reviews every 10 years. It also reinforces provisions concerning education and training. This Directive is transposed into French law. It should however be noted that European legislation does not yet enshrine in law the institutional independence of the safety regulators. 2.3 The European Euratom Directive on the Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste On 19 July 2011, the Council of the EU adopted a Directive establishing a community framework for the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste (Directive 2011/70/Euratom). ASN action on the international stage EUROPEAN MULTILATERAL PART EU, European Commission, Euratom ENSREG, WENRA, HERCA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS Nuclear Safety, Safety of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste, Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, Assistance ASN BILATERAL PART Cooperation and information exchange, assistance, personnel exchanges INTERNATIONAL MULTILATERAL PART IAEA, NEA, INRA 198 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024 International relations
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