The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the report by Vladimir URUTCHEV (EPP, BG) on the proposal for a Council regulation establishing a European Instrument for Nuclear Safety complementing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument on the basis of the Euratom Treaty.
Members recalled that the nuclear accidents at the Chernobyl nuclear power plants in 1986 and Fukushima Daiichi in 2011 have clearly demonstrated the need for the highest nuclear safety safeguards and standards and for continuous efforts to improve these standards and safeguards globally, as well as to secure the Community's commitment to these objectives in third countries.
The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament approve the Commission's proposal subject to the following amendments:
Subject matter: the objective of this Regulation is to complement those nuclear cooperation activities that are financed under [the Regulation NDICI], in particular in order to support the promotion of a high level of nuclear safety, radiation protection and the application of effective and efficient safeguards of nuclear materials in third countries, building on the regulatory frameworks and best practices within the Community.
The aim would be to help ensure a purely civilian use of nuclear material and by that, the protection of citizens and the environment by also supporting the implementation of transparency in nuclear related decision-making by authorities of third countries.
Members pointed out that cooperation provided by the Union in the field of nuclear safety and safeguards under this Regulation is not aimed at promoting nuclear energy.
The specific objectives of the instrument shall include in particular:
The Commission shall coordinate its cooperation with third countries and with international organisations pursuing similar objectives, in particular the IAEA and the OECD/NEA.
Proposed budget: Members proposed to set the financial envelope for the implementation of the Regulation for the period 2021-2027 at EUR 266 million in constant prices.
Criteria for international cooperation in nuclear safety: under the amended text, a common understanding and a reciprocal agreement between the third country and the Community shall be confirmed through a formal request to the Commission, committing the respective Government.
Third countries wishing to cooperate with the Community shall be members of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and should have its Additional Protocol or a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency sufficient to provide credible assurance of the non-diversion of declared nuclear material from peaceful nuclear activities and of the absence of undeclared nuclear material or activities in that state as a whole in place.
In the case of active cooperation, that commitment shall be evaluated annually. On the basis of such an evaluation, a decision shall be taken with regard to the continuation of the cooperation.
Transparency: the necessary information in relation to the nuclear safety measures undertaken in those third countries with the help of the Instrument and in relation to their nuclear safety standards in general, shall be made available to workers and the general public, with specific consideration to local authorities, population and stakeholders in the vicinity of a nuclear installation.