ENER/D3/2020-245 Implementation of Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response Requirements in EU Member States and Neighbouring Countries

Description

Directive 2013/59/Euratom (BSS Directive) and Directive 2014/87/Euratom (Nuclear Safety Directive, NSD) lay down basic safety standards and requirements in radiation protection and nuclear safety, including radiological and nuclear emergency preparedness and response (EP&R). These Directives introduce a number of new and strengthened provisions compared to earlier Directives and these define the scope of the project. The Commission would like to gain an full understanding of the rationale and contents of the national emergency management systems, and emergency plans, and specifically how they would be implemented in practice. The project will perform a detailed review and analysis of the existing national implementing measures related to the BSS and NS Directives, through detailed review of available information including national transposing measures and administrative procedures. 1) Review and evaluate the practical implementation of national emergency preparedness and response arrangements, emergency management systems and emergency plans in all EU Member States and participating countries in line with the provisions of the BSS and Nuclear Safety Directives. Provide information on the effectiveness of existing arrangements and capabilities in practice; review to what extent existing international and European standards, guidance and approaches are applied in practice; share national experiences amongst the relevant authorities and highlight effective practices that would improve public confidence. 2) Review and analyse the coherence of these arrangements in a cross-border context for EU Member States and participating countries in a number of scenarios. In this context, review implementation of coordination approaches developed by the competent authorities, and the outcomes of previous international exercises and European research projects. Through a series of case studies, identify specific actions and initiatives to increase mutual understanding of national arrangements and improve their coherence, harmonisation and their implementation in practice. 3) Facilitate cross-discipline discussion, technical exchanges, and sharing of experience amongst decision-makers, expert groups, civil society, licensee associations, regulatory bodies, health and civil protection authorities through a series of activities in order to achieve wider awareness of national and transboundary arrangements and to highlight effective implementation practices. 4) Develop recommendations for future policy actions at the EU-level, and identify broadly supported and practical proposals to improve implementation practices.