The European Commission has presented the proposal to amend the 2009 nuclear safety directive. Through the new directive, the EU aims to set safety objectives across the continent to reduce as much as possible the risks associated with the atom, and I protect people and the environment from a possible nuclear disaster
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Presented by the European Commission the proposal to amend the Nuclear Safety Directive of 2009. Through the new directive, the EU aims to set safety objectives across the continent to reduce as much as possible the risks associated with the atom, and protect people and the environment from a possible nuclear disaster.
To date, 132 nuclear reactors are active in the Member States. France holds the record with 58 reactors and 19 power plants, followed by Germany and Spain, with 9 and 8 reactors respectively.
In the aftermath of the Fukushima accident in March 2011, the Heads of State or Government asked the Commission, together with the Group of European Nuclear Safety Regulators (ENSREG), to carry out stress tests and to review EU nuclear safety legislation. Up to the current result. Under the new directive, the number one goal is safety. For this, Member States will have to ensure that in the event of an accident, the release of radioactivity into the environment is practically eliminated.
Secondly, Inspection of installations every six years across the EU is mandatory: Member States will jointly decide on one or more specific aspects and the common methodology of the assessments to be carried out by multinational teams. In addition, they will be required to implement the recommendations made. In the event of delays or non-implementation of the recommendations in a Member State, the European Commission can organize verification missions. Also nationwide there will be revisions. For this, every nuclear power plant will have to undergo a periodic safety review at least every ten years and a specific assessment if it is planned to extend its operation.
Apart from that of the new stations, which must be designed in such a way as to ensure that, in the event of damage to the reactor core, there are no consequences outside the plant. Finally, another key point is emergency preparedness and on-site response. According to the directive, it will be mandatory to create emergency response centers in every nuclear power plant, protected against radioactivity, earthquakes and floods, and to comply with strict guidelines for the management of accidents.
Günther Oettinger, Commissioner for Energy, commented on the proposed amendment to the directive as follows: “The decision whether or not to produce nuclear energy rests with the individual Member States. The fact remains that 132 nuclear reactors are operational in Europe today. Our job at the Commission is to ensure that safety is the top priority for each of these facilities. "
According to the EU, the directive ensures that national regulatory authorities are independent in making decisions and that political, economic or societal interests do not prevail over security objectives.
