atw 2018-04v6

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<strong>atw</strong> Vol. 63 (<strong>2018</strong>) | Issue 4 ı April 214 INSIDE NUCLEAR WITH NUCNET Euratom: Industry Softens Stance as Government Lays Out Plans for Transition NucNet The UK’s nuclear industry has welcomed a government commitment to continuity with existing arrangements with Euratom, Europe’s nuclear safety and research watchdog, a softening of its earlier stance that the UK needed to stay in the group to protect vital nuclear research and new-build projects, and to make sure access to nuclear fuel and medical isotopes is not disrupted. Energy secretary Greg Clark said in a written statement to parliament on 11 January <strong>2018</strong> that the government wants to include Euratom in any implementation period agreed as part of wider discussions on Brexit and plans to put in place “all the necessary measures” to ensure that the UK can operate as an independent and responsible nuclear state from day one of Brexit and its separation from the Euratom Treaty, which regulates the nuclear industry and the movement of nuclear material across Europe. According to Mr Clark’s statement, the government has made good progress on separation issues in the last few months as part of phase one of negotiations with the EU. Negotiations have covered a set of legal and technical issues related to nuclear material and waste, and safeguards obligations and equipment. The next phase of discussions will focus on the UK’s future relationship with Euratom. Specific objectives include a close association with the Euratom Research and Training Programme, including the Joint European Torus (JET) and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) projects. For the nuclear industry, rapid departure from Euratom without a clear replacement spells disaster. Scientists have warned that British nuclear stations may not be able to source nuclear fuel if it cannot be legally transported across borders. The shipment of medical isotopes used in scans and cancer treatment might be jeopardised. European workers on shared research projects, such as experimental fusion reactors, face an equally uncertain future without Euratom’s separate guarantees of freedom of movement. But the London-based Nuclear Industry Association (NIA), which represents more than 260 nuclear companies, cautiously welcomed Mr Clark’s statement, calling it a “useful and welcome step” in setting out the government’s approach in seeking to secure equivalent arrangements to those the UK benefits from as a member of Euratom. The NIA also welcomed clarity on the government’s intention to negotiate an implementation period to ensure a smooth transition from the current to new arrangements. It warned, however, that there is much still to do in equipping the UK’s regulator to take on Euratom’s safeguarding activities. The UK needs to reach post-Euratom agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and others. It needs to agree new trading arrangements with the Euratom community and conclude a new funding agreement for the UK to continue its work in Euratom’s fusion R&D activities. “It is vital government continues to prioritise these issues in the period ahead if there is to be a successful outcome,” the NIA said. Unlike the dozens of other regulatory arrangements for industries such as aviation or pharmaceuticals, Euratom has been singled out for special treatment through the Brexit process because it is not technically part of the EU. Instead, the treaty that established this body to coordinate Europe’s civil nuclear energy industry was born in parallel with the birth of the European economic community in 1957. The UK’s participation in Euratom therefore required a separate legal relationship with the European court of justice to enforce it. The nuclear industry had been hoping that because of this separation from the “mainstream Brexit,” the UK might decide to remain part of Euratom. The NIA and the Brussels-based trade body Foratom both said the UK should maintain its membership. They argued that the nuclear industry is global, and the ease of movement of nuclear goods, people and services enables new build, decommissioning, R&D and other programmes of work to continue without interruption. The government insists that leaving Euratom is an inevitable consequence of Brexit – a position shared by the European negotiators. But is says it wants continuity of open trade arrangements for nuclear goods and products to ensure the nuclear industry is able to continue to trade across EU borders without disruption. Support for remaining in Euratom had come not only from within the industry, but also from politicians. Conservative MPs said they would for the government to fight harder for the UK to stay in Euratom. The opposition Labour Party said Britain should remain in Euratom, adding it is increasingly clear that the government acted “recklessly” by giving up on membership. Scientists said leaving Euratom will cause widespread confusion and have a potentially devastating impact on the nuclear industry. They warned of potential problems related to the transportation of nuclear materials, including nuclear fuel; research, especially fusion research; and overseas investment in development of British nuclear power stations. Mr Clark’s statement addressed another concern for the industry – the issue of accessing a skilled pan-European workforce for the sector once Brexit is complete. Mr Clark said the nuclear sector needs the workforce for decommissioning, operation of existing facilities and new-build projects. He said proposals for the UK’s future immigration system will be set out shortly and “we will ensure that those businesses and communities, and parliament have the opportunity to contribute their views before making any decisions about the future system”. Whatever the outcome of negotiations with the EU, it is vital that the civil nuclear industry has a safeguards regime that meets international standards. But this is not dependent on the EU negotiations and the UK government is well advanced in delivering this plan, the statement said. Inside Nuclear with NucNet Euratom: Industry Softens Stance as Government Lays Out Plans for Transition ı NucNet

<strong>atw</strong> Vol. 63 (<strong>2018</strong>) | Issue 4 ı April Advertisement The UK is establishing a legislative and regulatory framework for a domestic safeguards regime which will provide legal powers to establish a domestic regime which the Office for Nuclear Regulation will regulate. It is also negotiating bilateral safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency and putting in place bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements with key third countries. NIA chief executive Tom Greatrex said the UK industry and research facilities have been consistently clear with government about the importance of these issues since the referendum. “Even with a suitable transition, there remains much work for the government to do to prevent the significant disruption that industry is concerned about.” Mr Clark’s statement is online: http://bit.ly/2CQ1wwQ Fachseminar Nuklearhaftung Haftung und Deckung im Nuklearbereich q Das Haftungssystem des Pariser Übereinkommens und des Atomgesetzes q Besitzerhaftung nach § 26 AtG q Deckungsvorsorge und Versicherung q Aktuelle Aspekte, z.B. Haftung für Anlagen in Stilllegung und Rückbau sowie Stand der Umsetzung des PÜ-Änderungsprotokolls Zielgruppe q Projektleiter, Führungskräfte, Fachleute in den Bereichen Versicherung, Vertrag, Genehmigung, Projekte, Juristen wie Nichtjuristen Dozenten 2 Dr. Christian Raetzke ı Rechtsanwalt 2 Achim Jansen-Tersteegen ı Geschäftsführer, Deutsche Kernreaktor-Versicherungsgemeinschaft DATF EDITORIAL NOTES 215 Author NucNet The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency David Dalton Editor in Chief, NucNet Avenue des Arts 56 1000 Brussels, Belgium www.nucnet.org Am 5. September <strong>2018</strong> in Leipzig Ï Information und Anmeldung: www.conlar.de Rechtsanwaltskanzlei Dr. Christian Raetzke Beethovenstraße 19 · 04107 Leipzig Tel. 0341 – 9999 1444 christian.raetzke@conlar.de · www.conlar.de Notes Conlar <strong>atw</strong> 18-04 75x124.indd 1 18.03.18 15:02 Grafik des Monats Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, Bau und Reaktorsicherheit (BMUB) Fachaufsicht Beteiligungsverwaltung Fachaufsicht Bundesaufsicht Zusammenarbeit im Länderausschuss für Atomkernenergie (LAA) Organigramm der Behördenstruktur im Rahmen des Standortauswahlverfahrens für das Endlager für hochradioaktive Abfälle. Bundesamt für kerntechnische Entsorgungssicherheit (BfE) Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung (BGE) Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS) Landesministerien Regulierung von Endlagern Planfeststellung und Genehmigung von Endlagern Aufsicht von Endlagern Regulierung Private Rechtsform – 100% öffentliche Hand Nicht an öffentliche Haushalte gebunden Vorhabenträger: • Standortsuche • Bau • Betrieb • Stilllegung von Endlagern Wissenschaftliche Bundesbehörde für Aspekte des Strahlenschutzes Atomrechtliche Vollzugsaufgaben Bergrechtliche Zulassungen und wasserrechtliche Erlaubnisse im Benehmen mit BfE | | Quelle: DAtF in Anlehnung an Endlagerkommission For further details please contact: Nicolas Wendler DAtF Robert-Koch-Platz 4 10115 Berlin Germany E-mail: presse@ kernenergie.de www.kernenergie.de DAtF Notes