Croatia

Nuclear regulatory authority

In line with the Decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia of 2 August 2018, the tasks and activities pertaining to radiological and nuclear safety and security fall under the competence of Ministry of the Interior (MoI) as of 1^st January 2019. The responsibilities of the MoI are defined in the Act on Radiological and Nuclear Safety (OG 141/13, 39/15, 130/17 and 118/18). The tasks of radiological and nuclear safety, security and inspection are carried out by Civil Protection Directorate (CPD) within the MoI (https://civilna-zastita.gov.hr/podrucja-djelovanja/83).

The jurisdiction of the CPD covers administrative and professional tasks in field of radiological and nuclear security: issuing approvals, permits, authorisations, drafts legal acts in the field of radiological and nuclear safety, etc. The CPD is also competent for keeping records, monitoring and analysing doses of exposed workers, exposure of patients and the population to ionising radiation. It carries out tasks of prescribing curriculum in the field of radiological and nuclear safety, approving relevant dose constraint values and dose assessment methods. The CPD organizes environmental radioactivity monitoring and monitors the presence of radioactive substances in human and animal food and consumer products in regular and emergency situations. It organizes the preparedness system, management and support in radiological and nuclear emergency events and cooperates with the International Atomic Energy Agency, relevant bodies of the European Union and national organisations and associations in the field of radiological and nuclear safety.

Nuclear activities

There are no nuclear power plants in the Republic of Croatia, but in the 1980s the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia constructed the Krško nuclear power plant (Krško NPP) on the Slovenian territory.

Presently, both states share the nuclear liability and the ownership of the Krško NPP. The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on the Regulation of the Status and other legal Relationships, Connected with Investments in the Krško NPP, its Exploatation and Decommissioning was signed (Official Gazzete-IA 9/02) in 2001.

Nowadays, the Croatian regulatory body is not competent for that issue. The Slovenian regulatory body, Slovenian Nuclear Safety Authority, is in charge of licensing Krško NPP operators, reviewing operations and modifications as well as carrying out regulatory inspections.

Radioactive waste and spent fuel management

Croatia has small quantities of institutional radioactive waste originating from medical, industrial, scientifical etc. actitvities. However, Croatia, as co-owner of Krško NPP is responsible for the disposal of half of the radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, and accordingly, for establishing a radioactive waste management facility in Croatia. Therefore, the Croatian Parliament adopted the National Strategy (2014) and the National Program (2018) for Radioactive Waste Management.

For this purpose, the Fund for Financing the Decommissioning of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant and the Disposal of Krško NPP Radioactive Waste and Spent Nucear Fuel was founded in 2008. To ensure a safe management of radioactive waste, the following documents were adopted by the government: Strategy for the Management of Radioactive Waste, Disused Sources and Spent Nuclear Fuel (OG 125/14) in 2014, and the National Program for the Implementation of the Strategy (Programme) in 2018.

In contrast to the Strategy, the Programme provides more detailed interpretations of the requirements and goals and covers the period up to 2025 with an overview of the developments until 2060. It advocates the application of proven, widely accepted solutions from international best practice. The Programme foresees the remediation of sites contaminated with naturally occurring radionuclides and the establishment of a central storage facility for radioactive waste to be located on Croatian territory, and for 50% of low and intermediate level radioactive waste located in the Krško NPP. Besides institutional waste originating from, e.g. medical, industrial, scientifical etc. actitvities, Croatia is obliged to ensure the disposal of half of the radioactive waste and spent nuclear waste stemming from the use of the Krško NPP which is 50% co-owned by Croatia. According to the Programme, spent nuclear fuel shall continue to be stored at Krško NPP at the least until 2043. After that period both countries will seek for a a common permanent solution.

The Fund is involved in activities related to the acquisition, maintenance and increase of value of assets for financing the preparation, review and implementation of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning and Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Waste Disposal Program pursuant to Articles 10 and 11 of the Intergovernmental agreement „The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on the Regulation of the Status and other legal Relationships, Connected with Investments in the Krško NPP, its Exploatation and Decommissioning (OG-IA 9/02).

Main legal instruments

The nuclear legal framework in Croatia is mainly contained in Act on Radiological and Nuclear Safety, adopted in November 2013 (OG 141/13, 39/15, 130/17 and 118/18), and is fully harmonized with the EU legislation. It sets measures for radiological and nuclear safety and security to ensure adequate current and future protection of individuals, society and environment, The measures also pertain to the safe performance of practices involving radiation sources, nuclear activities and management of radioactive waste and disused sources. The complete list of the national legislation is available at the website:
https://civilna-zastita.gov.hr/podrucja-djelovanja/radioloska-i-nuklearna-sigurnost/propisi/235.

The Act on Radiological and Nuclear Safety (OG 141/2013, ) and is fully harmonized with all EU legislation.

Also related to these issues are the Strategy on Radiological and Nuclear Safety for the period 2017-2025 (OG 65/2017) and Regulation on Measures for Protection against Ionizing Radiation and Procedures in Case of Emergency (OG 24/2018 and 70/2020).

Implementation of International Instruments:

Multilateral agreements

Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (OG – International Agreements 01/06)
Joint Protocol Relating to the Application of the Vienna Convention and the Paris Convention (OG – International Agreements 12/93)
Convention on Nuclear Safety (OG – International Agreements 13/95)
Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (OG – International Agreements 03/99)
Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (OG – International Agreements 05/01
Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (approval on 11 September 2006)
Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident of Radiological Emergency (OG – International Agreements 01/06)
Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident (OG – International Agreements 01/06)
Agreement between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, Ireland, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the European Atomic Energy Community and the International Atomic Energy Agency in Implementation of Article III (1) and (4) of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and Protocol Additional to the Agreement between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, Ireland, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the European Atomic Energy Community and the International Atomic Energy Agency in Implementation of Article III (1) and (4) of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (OG – International Agreements 3/16)

Bilateral agreements

Agreement Between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia on the Early Exchange of Information in the Event of a Radiological Emergency (OG – International Agreements 09/98, amended 3/00)
Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Government of the Republic of Hungary on the Early Exchange of Information in the Event of a Radiological Emergency (OG – International Agreements 11/99)
Protocol on the Means of Information and Data Exchange Between the State Regulatory Agency for Radiological and Nuclear Safety of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the State Office for Radiological and Nuclear Safety of the Republic of Croatia (2013)
Arrangement between the State Office for Radiological and Nuclear Safety of the Republic of Croatia and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the Exchange of Technical Information and Cooperation in Nuclear Safety Matters (2018)
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on Regulation of Status and Other Legal Issues Regarding Investments in Krško NPP, and its Exploitation and Decommissioning OG – International Agreements 9/02).

Last updated in September 2020