DG ENER commissioned in 2013 a study with the title “Review of current off-site nuclear emergency preparedness and response arrangements in EU member states and neighbouring countries”. Study was prepared by consortium ENCO (Austria) and UJV (CzechR).
The objective of the investigation was:
- Assess the status of the existing arrangements and capabilities for off-site emergency preparedness and response (EP&R) within and between the EU Member States (MS) and neighbouring countries in respect of their coherence and completeness;
- Identify best practices, gaps and inconsistencies, in particular related with cross border arrangements;
- Assess how current arrangements and capabilities could be made more effective (in particular optimized to make better use of available resources and avoid duplication, both nationally and across borders); and
- Make recommendations on potential areas for improvement.
This study was conducted in 28 EU countries, plus Norway, Russian federation, Switzerland, Ukraine and Armenia.
Methodology for the study included:
- Collection of information on current arrangements: 2 questioners sent to national contact points;
- Benchmarking against the requirements (IAEA and European Union):
- GS-R-2: Preparedness and response for a nuclear or radiological emergency, 2002.
- Council Directive laying down basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation, 96/29/Euratom, 1996.
- Council Directive on informing the general public about health protection measures to be applied and steps to be taken in the event of a radiological emergency, 89/618/Euratom, 1989.
- Council Regulation laying down maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of foodstuffs and of feeding-stuffs following a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological emergency, 3954/87/Euratom, 1987, as amended by Council Regulation 2218/89/Euratom, 1989.
- Mapping against International or European requirements, guidance or recommendations;
- Involvement of Stakeholder Group to internally review the work;
- Case studies – limited to cross border arrangements: AT–CZ and CH-DE-FR;
- Collection of information on future improvements (questionnaire and discussion).
The aim of this new request is the access to this study commissioned by the European Commission on Emergency Preparedness, which had not been published.
| Action | Date | Condition |
| Request sent by letter to the European Commission | 03/03/2014 | Sent |
| Reply from the Commission | 07/05/2014 | Received |
| NTW received the study on Emergency Preparedness and Response from the European Commission. | 08/05/2014 | Received |
We received a reply from the European Commission. In its letter, EC inform us that they have received the results of the study and they will publish it shortly.
One day after, we finally succeed to access to the final report “Review of Current Off-site Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response Arrangements in EU Member States and Neighbouring Countries” that you can now download and watch here!
Download the letter adressed by NTW to Mr. Oettinger, the European Commissionner for energy concerning the access to an European Commission study on Emergency Preparedness and Response.
Or read it below :
Dear Commissioner Oettinger,
On February 6th & 7th last Nuclear Transparency Watch (NTW) held an inception seminar of its Working Group on Emergency Preparedness & Response (EP&R) in Paris. The participants, drawn from a wide spectrum of nuclear-related official bodies and NGOs, discussed the current situation regarding EP&R in Europe following the lessons learned from evaluation of the Fukushima nuclear accident three years ago. An action plan of the Working Group’s activities for 2014 was agreed.
In the course of the seminar NTW learned of an important study on EP&R in EU Member States and some third countries commissioned by DG ENER in 2012. According to our information the study entitled “Review of current off-site nuclear emergency preparedness and response arrangements in EU member states and neighbouring countries” has been completed recently. Given the goals and objectives of this study the members of the NTW Working Group are very eager to have full access to the study and to use its results in their work. This would make a substantial contribution to the activities of the Working Group that aims to improve the level of EP&R in Europe through increased engagement of civil society.
Nuclear Transparency Watch has been informed that the European Commission does not intend to make the study available to the public but rather to integrate its results into a Communication to be published before summer this year. NTW believes that is in best interest of EU citizens, the European institutions and the nuclear sector to make the study publicly and fully available as soon as possible, including the questionnaires and any other ancillary material.
Access to the study would permit feedback to civil society on its results and enable evaluation beyond the self-assessments of the authorities involved. It would help civil society to contribute to the improvement and harmonisation of EP&R provisions and arrangements and enhance the management of transboundary activities in the nuclear sector.
Please regard this as a formal request for access to information made under the terms of the
Aarhus Convention (Article 4 on Access to Information) to which the European Commission is a Party.
The following Regulation also apply:
a) REGULATION (EC) No 1367/2006 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 6 September 2006 on the application of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters to Community institutions and bodies
(http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:264:0013:0019:EN:PDF)
b) REGULATION (EC) No 1049/2001 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2001:145:0043:0048:EN:PDF)
With regards,
__________________
Mrs. Michele Rivasi,
Chair,
Nuclear Transparency Watch (NTW)