28/01/2014 While the Council and European Parliament are still formulating their positions on the Nuclear Safety Directive, the Commission is already assessing the need for new measures in the field of nuclear energy. On 20-21 January the Commission, together with the Brussels Nuclear Law Association and the European Economic and Social Committee, held a seminar on nuclear liability. A communication in the field of nuclear liability is expected before the end of this Commission mandate.
The Council is still discussing the Commission’s proposal for amending the Nuclear Safety Directive. The proposal introduces new EU-wide safety objectives, sets up a European system of peer reviews of nuclear installations and strengthens the role and independence of national regulators. The Greek EU Presidency is expected to conclude the negotiations before the end of its Presidency. While the Council has not challenged the structure of the Directive and is not planning to delete entire articles, it is nevertheless expected to modify the text significantly.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament is preparing its report on the Nuclear Safety Directive, with MEP Romana Jordan in the lead. The Parliament does not have co-decision powers in this area, but Ms Jordan hopes that its opinion will influence the Council's thinking. The Parliament aims to adopt the report at the latest in April (adoption by the ITRE Committee is foreseen for 18 March), which is the last chance to conclude on the Nuclear Safety Directive before the parliamentary elections. Based on the discussions in the ITRE and rapporteur Jordan’s draft report the committee seems to be broadly in line with the Commission proposal, for instance in supporting the topical peer reviews and strengthening the independence of national regulators.
The next steps include a communication (or another type of Commission document) on nuclear liability. Regulatory proposals are not expected from this Commission, which will be in office until the end of October. DG Energy has also been working on off-site emergency preparedness. A study that covers, among other things, practices in different European countries has been commissioned.
