International organizations and bodies International cooperation on nuclear safety takes place via various multilateral organisations and bodies. IAEO The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was founded in 1957 as an autonomous international organisation. It reports regularly to the United Nations General Assembly and is obliged to contact the United Nations Security Council directly if a threat to international safety has been ascertained. Germany has been a member of the IAEA since 1957, the year in which it was established, and is permanently represented on its monitoring and governing body, the IAEA Board of Governors. The IAEA’s focal issues are nuclear energy and nuclear applications, nuclear safety and security, and the monitoring of fissile radioactive material (verification). NEA The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), based in Paris, is a semi-autonomous organisation within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). At present, 31 countries in Europe, America, Asia and Australia are members of the NEA. The Federal Republic of Germany is a founding member of the OECD and joined the NEA in 1958. NSSG In 1975, the then leading Western industrialised countries established the Group of Seven (G7) to discuss global economic issues. The G7 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Russia used to be member of G8, but due to the current political situation in Ukraine, Russia's participation has been suspended. Within the G7 framework, the Nuclear Safety and Security Group (NSSG) is a permanent body dealing with nuclear safety issues. The NSSG evolved from the Nuclear Safety Working Group, established in 1992, which mainly dealt with the safety of Eastern European nuclear reactors of Russian design. In addition to the G7 countries, the European Commission, the OECD/NEA, the IAEA and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have observer status. INRA The International Nuclear Regulators Association (INRA) was established in 1997 and comprises the heads of the national regulatory authorities of countries with the most advanced nuclear technologies (Canada, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US). The chair rotates every year. INRA addresses issues of mutual interest and discusses recommendations to strengthen the capacities of nuclear safety authorities worldwide. INRA's main purpose is to exchange regulatory perspectives at a high-level to enhance nuclear safety among its members taking into account topics like e. g. the independence of the top regulator, the improvement of safety culture or the preservation of competence. UNSCEAR Due to the rising levels of ionising radiation in the atmosphere from nuclear weapons testing, the UN General Assembly established the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) in December 1955. Over time, UNSCEAR became the official international authority on the levels and effects of exposure to ionising radiation. Among other things, UNSCEAR investigated the impacts of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011. At present, representatives of 27 countries are involved in UNSCEAR’s work. ICRP Since 1928, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has established a system of protection against ionising radiation that is recognised worldwide. To that end, ICRP drafts recommendations which form the scientific basis for legislation in this area. ICRP is an independent organisation comprising around 200 leading scientists from 30 countries.
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Transboundary environmental assessment (EIA/SEA procedures) Strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) and environmental impact assessments (EIAs) are important tools for cooperation on transboundary environmental protection. Transboundary EIAs evolved from the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention), while transboundary SEAs have developed out of the subsequent UNECE Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA Protocol). Germany implemented the provisions of these two international conventions with its Act on the Assessment of Environmental Impacts (UVPG). If a project has the potential to cause substantial environmental impacts in another country, the competent authority notifies the relevant authorities at an early stage; if these authorities cannot be identified, the other country’s Espoo contact point is alerted with a view to ensuring transboundary participation in an environmental assessment procedure. In Germany, the authority which would be responsible for an equivalent domestic project takes the requisite measures in accordance with the UVPG. Further information BMUKN: Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (external link, German) Espoo Convention (external link, German) BMUKN: SEA Protocol and SUPG (external link, German)
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Environmental impact assessment (EIA) An environmental impact assessment (EIA) determines and describes in a report what impact a project will have on people (including human health), animals, plants, biodiversity, soil, water, ambient air, the climate, the landscape and cultural assets. The public and specialist authorities, but also citizens and public authorities in neighbouring countries that may be affected, may express comments and opinions on the report. The authority responsible for approving a project is tasked with evaluating the information and comments and must consider the results of the EIA when deciding whether to approve a project. Further information BMUKN: Transboundary EIAs with German participation (external link, German)
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Decommissioning of nuclear facilities The decommissioning of nuclear facilities is a challenge countries utilising nuclear power must address. After the end of their operational life, nuclear power plants cannot simply be abandoned. Since they may still pose a hazard, they have to be decommissioned and dismantled in order to protect people and the environment. A licence pursuant to Section 7 (3) of the Atomic Energy Act (AtG) is required to decommission and dismantle nuclear facilities in Germany.
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