PURPOSE: to establish an Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC) 2014-2020 following the “Instrument for Nuclear Safety Co-operation” with third countries, 2007-2013.
NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (Euratom) No 237/2014 establishing an Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation.
BACKGROUND: this Regulation is placed within the framework of the new multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2014-2020 applicable to the Union’s external policy and cooperation with third countries. The measures provided are the following:
- Financing instrument for development cooperation (IDC);
- Partnership instrument for cooperation with third countries (PI);
- Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II);
- European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI);
- this Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC);
- Instrument contributing to stability (IS);
- Financing instrument for democracy and human rights worldwide (IDHRW).
All of the procedures for the implementation of these instruments would be governed by specific Regulation adopted at the same time.
CONTENT: with this Regulation, the Unions provides assistance aimed at supporting the promotion of a high level of nuclear safety and radiation protection as well as the application of efficient and effective safeguards of nuclear material in third countries.
Specific objectives: cooperation under this Regulation shall pursue the following specific objectives:
1. the promotion of an effective nuclear safety culture and implementation of the highest nuclear safety and radiation protection standards, and continuous improvement of nuclear safety;
2. responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste (transport, pre-treatment, treatment, processing, storage and disposal, and the decommissioning and remediation of former nuclear sites and installations);
3. the establishment of frameworks and methodologies for the application of efficient and effective safeguards for nuclear material in third countries.
To this end, a series of specific measures have been provided detailing the scope of targets to achieve including:
- promotion and support for regulatory bodies;
- measures for the prevention of accidents with radiological consequences, including accidental exposure to radioactive waste;
- measures ensuring safety of nuclear installations;
- measures for the remediation of legacy sites related to uranium mining;
- staff training ad hoc provided that these measures are not diverted for improper uses.
The measures may include actions to promote international cooperation, including implementation and monitoring of international Conventions and Treaties, knowledge transfer in the area of nuclear safety and research, cooperation with the competent authorities of Member States of the Union and/or with third countries' authorities, nuclear regulators and their technical support organisations, and/or relevant international organisations, in particular the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
An Annexe also defines the criteria for cooperation on nuclear safety (including priorities for action).
Financial envelope: in line with the multiannual financial framework, the financial reference amount for the implementation of this Regulation over the period 2014 to 2020 is fixed at EUR 225 321 000.
Indicative financial programming: some measures provide for the implementation of the financial programming framework and the allocation of funds. The cooperation under this Regulation shall be implemented on the basis of a general multiannual strategy paper on a general basis for the cooperation for a maximum period of up to seven years. This document shall have regard to the needs of the countries concerned, the Community's priorities, the international situation and the activities of the respective third countries.
The preparation of the strategy paper shall be subject to the principles of aid effectiveness: (national ownership, partnership, coordination, harmonisation, alignment to recipient country or regional systems, mutual accountability and results orientation). The Commission shall approve the strategy paper in line with the examination procedure.
Multiannual indicative programmes would also be drawn up on the basis of the strategy paper (with a duration of two to four years) with actions and funding as well as annual action programmes. Different adoption and implementation rules are planned according to the types of measures to be financed.
Coherence and complementarity: the Union should seek the most efficient use of available resources in order to optimise the impact of its external action. The Commission should ensure that the measures adopted are consistent with the Union's overall strategic policy framework for the partner country concerned, and, in particular, with the objectives of that partner country's development and economic cooperation policies and programmes.
Progress towards the achievement of the specific objectives shall be assessed through a series of performance indicators defined in the Regulation.
The cooperation provided shall be complementary to that provided by the Union under other instruments.
Implementation procedures: most of the implementing rules for this Regulation are those laid down in the Instruments for financing external action to implement EU external policy.
Report: the Commission should review progress made in the implementation of this Instrument through an annual report to be submitted to the European Parliament and to the Council.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 18.03.2014. The Regulation shall apply from 01.01.2014 until 31.12.2020.