Financial cooperation with non-EU countries on nuclear safety (2014–20)

 

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (Euratom) No 237/2014 establishing an Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THIS REGULATION?

• It allows for grants to non-EU countries with a view to maintaining the highest possible nuclear safety standards.
• It supports the development of strategies for
  • managing nuclear waste and used fuel, and
  • decommissioning nuclear plants and former uranium mining sites.
• It covers the years 2014–2020 and has a budget of €225 million.

KEY POINTS

Aims

• To promote the EU approach for the highest possible safety standards thereby enhancing the safety of non-EU countries’ nuclear sectors.
• To eliminate hazards to life and public health and maintain consistent improvement through education, training and sharing of expertise.
• To cooperate with safety regulators (the authorities charged with supervising and controlling the safety and security of the nuclear sector) to ensure their technical competence and independence, as well as to reinforce nuclear safety rules. This specifically takes into account licensing activities and safety assessments or ‘stress tests’ of nuclear facilities.

Implementation

This is based on an annual action programme, set out for each country requiring assistance. This programme includes details such as measures to be taken, projects to be carried out, funding amounts and the expected results.

EU policy on international cooperation

The instrument is part of EU foreign policy on international cooperation. Most rules on its implementation are contained in Regulation (EU) No 236/2014 for financing foreign cooperation strategies. This cooperation is not aimed at promoting nuclear energy itself outside the EU.

Eligibility

Although open to all countries, priority is to be given to those that have applied for EU membership, those that border the EU and those who to abide by international treaties on nuclear safety, such as the 1994 Convention on Nuclear Safety.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It applies from 1 January 2014 till 31 December 2020.

BACKGROUND

Further information is available at:

• ‘Nuclear safety cooperation in third countries’ on the European Commission's website
• International Atomic Energy Agency website.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Regulation (Euratom) No 237/2014 of 13 December 2013 establishing an Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, pp. 109–116)

RELATED ACTS

Regulation (EU) No 236/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 laying down common rules and procedures for the implementation of the Union’s instruments for financing external action (OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, pp. 95–108)

Successive corrections to Regulation (EU) No 236/2014 have been incorporated in to the original document. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

last update 03.08.2016