The European Commission has proposed a new nuclear safety directive to prevent large accidents like Fukushima happening. Since the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, public awareness and concern on nuclear safety in Europe has been raised. With the large number of 132 nuclear reactors in the EU, new EU-wide regulations are necessary to ensure nuclear safety in the European domain.
Under the new proposal, all plants have to undergo specific assessments every 6 years and submitted for EU wide peer reviews. Citizens would have the opportunity to participate in the licensing process of nuclear installations. New safety objectives would be introduced covering all stages of the life cycle of nuclear installations (siting, design, construction, commissioning, operation, decommissioning). On another hand, National regulatory authorities would be given a greater role, greater independence and appropriate staff and resources.
However, Greenpeace commented the proposal by saying that it does “little to rule out a European Fukushima” and does not factor in deliberate sabotage or terrorism. “The proposed partial testing of nuclear power plants every six years would also leave some parts of a plant untouched for decades,” said the NGO.
References:
Articles
EUobserver “Brussels unveils latest nuclear safety rules”
Greenpeace “Proposed EU nuclear safety rules won’t rule out a European Fukushima”
EU Press Release / official page
Press release on New Nuclear Safety Directive
“EU Nuclear Stress Tests: Legally binding reviews every six years”
EC page introducing the new safety proposal