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Emergency arrangements at EU level

At the EU level, there are several networks that integrate national monitoring and forecasting systems and allow rapid, coordinated responses to radiological emergencies by sharing real-time data. These are:

National responsibility

At the national level, legislation is adopted which allocates clearly the responsibilities for the preparedness and response to a nuclear or radiological emergency. This legislation takes account of and implements EU requirements for emergency preparedness arrangements, including arrangements for informing the public.

International organisations involved in nuclear safety guidance

Several international organisations contribute to guidance and standards for all aspects of nuclear safety. These international bodies include:

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

International Guidance on Nuclear Safety and Radioactive Waste Management

The International Conventions

Most EU Member States are contracting parties to a number of international safety conventions. These are:

The Safety Conventions

Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) which addresses the safety of nuclear power plants.
Joint Convention on the safety of spent nuclear fuel and the safety of radioactive waste.

The Emergency Conventions

EU instruments for nuclear safety

Euratom

Useful links

National regulators

Organisations and groups

EU legislation

Legal notice

Disclaimer

The international conventions

Most EU Member States are contracting parties to a number of international safety conventions. These are:

Prevention of accidents

Defence in depth

The concept of defence in depth is fundamental to the safety of nuclear installations. Nuclear safety does not rely on one line of defence but is achieved using a range of complementary means. These factors start with the design and building of a nuclear facility which requires choosing a good design and appropriate site, use of high-quality construction materials and testing before operation. They also cover the whole range of organisational and behavioural issues that are critical to operating a nuclear installation.

Regulating for safety

The basic objective of nuclear safety is to protect the public, workers in the nuclear industry and the environment from hazards arising from the nuclear industry. To protect against these risks, nuclear installations must comply with national, EU and international standards which ensure that the established radiation dose limits are not exceeded and that the probability and consequences of nuclear accidents are reduced to an acceptable level.