Europe : Country Updates : July 2018

In addition to events in the United Kingdom during July, there has been media coverage across Europe on geological disposal and radioactive waste management:

France

Publication of France’s latest inventory of radioactive waste prompts a series of factual articles looking at the issue of radioactive waste management and the proposed geological repository at Bure (articles in leading French national newspapers on 7 & 13 July 2018).

Germany

As Germany restarts its process of setting up a deep disposal site for highly radioactive waste, a 5-year agreement signed with France’s ANDRA so that Germany can learn from France’s experience (see news announcement on 17 July).

Holland

Activist concerns that a radioactive waste disposal method being considered by the Council of State is driven by cost rather than environmental considerations (blog from Dutch NGO, Laka, on 19 July).

Russia

Concern that Rosatom has potentially over-exposed itself to the long-term costs of managing radioactive waste through its contractual obligations to international clients (see articles on 15 & 20 July 2018).

Slovakia

The EU has granted Slovakia’s request to reduce payments into the fund set up to cover the country’s nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste management costs.  Since the reduced payments will only be for major industrial users “exposed to international trade”, as a way for Slovakia to help some of its main exporting businesses remain competitive, the European Commission has judged this is not a breach of state aid rules (see EU News article on 6 July 2018).

Turkey

President Erdoğan makes himself sole authority over Turkey’s nuclear energy programme by setting up a new Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK) which is appointed by and reports directly to him.  Concerns about the independence of such a body (see media coverage from 16 July).

Ukraine

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed a decree which includes additional measures for safe management of radioactive waste (see article on 6 July 2018).