The EU’s amended Nuclear Safety Directive was officially adopted in July, providing more power and independence for national regulatory authorities, a high-level EU-wide safety objective, and a European system of peer reviews.

The European Commission said in a statement that the directive would also introduce periodic national safety assessments and on-site emergency preparedness and response arrangements, while increasing transparency and improving education and training.

The 2014 directive amends the previous directive, in force since 2009, and provides a stronger framework for EU nuclear safety, as called for by EU heads of state and governments following the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011. Member States will have three years to incorporate the new directive into their national legislation.

Welcoming the adoption of the new directive, European Commission Vice President Günther Oettinger said that the directive made a major contribution to enhancing the safety of nuclear installations and promoting a strong safety culture in Europe.

“In a region where over a quarter of electricity and over half of the low-carbon electricity produced comes from nuclear energy, it is crucial to ensure safe operation of nuclear power plants. With the revised directive, the EU shows its leadership in nuclear safety,” Mr. Oettinger said.

The amended directive reinforces the provisions of the 2009 directive, by:

• Strengthening the powers and independence of national regulatory authorities;
• Introducing an EU-wide safety objective to prevent accidents;
• Setting up a European system of peer reviews on specific safety issues;
• Increasing transparency on nuclear safety matters;
• Providing for an initial safety assessment before a nuclear installation is built as well as for periodic national safety assessments;
• Improving the consistency of national on-site emergency preparedness and response arrangements; and
• Promoting an effective nuclear safety culture through management systems, education and training and arrangements by the operator

For more information

For the new directive, go to