Proposed revision of the European directive on nuclear safety: ASN identifies the steps in the right direction and highlights the subjects still to be dealt with.

ASN is today making public its opinion on the proposed revision of the European directive on nuclear safety, which constitutes the legislative and regulatory framework underpinning the safety of the nuclear facilities of the Member States of the European Union. ASN highlights those aspects of the proposed revision of this directive which it considers to be steps in the right direction. At the same time, it underlines those subjects which still need to be addressed in order to give the European nuclear safety framework its full scope and potential.

The European directive on nuclear safety, published in 2009, determines fundamental obligations and general principles with regard to the nuclear safety of nuclear facilities. It defines the role of the various national organisations which take part in the oversight of safety and which are responsible for regulation and it guarantees transparency concerning questions relating to the safety of the facilities.<0}

Following the Fukushima-Daiichi accident in March 2011 and at the request of the European Council, the Commission proposed a revision of this directive, in order to reinforce certain provisions and create new safety obligations.

After in particular consulting the nuclear safety authorities in Europe, the European Commission submitted its proposed revision to a competent working group within the Council of the European Union, where this proposal is currently being discussed. At the same time, the proposed revision of the European Directive has been brought before the European Parliament, which will issue a consultative opinion early in the second quarter of 2014.