1st Workshop on issues and trends arising from the European IRRS missions

Findings and Conclusions

A. MunueraBrussels, 22nd and 23rd January 2014

IRRS missions are important international cooperation and contribute to nuclear safety, openness and transparency.

Previous international workshops took place in France (2006), in Spain (2008) and the US (2011).

Enhancing the IRRS missions is included in the IAEA’s Action Plan on Nuclear Safety.

ENSREG and the IAEA signed in 2011 a MoU for the better coordination of the IRRS Missions to EU countries.

ENSREG has established a program of missions and a pool of experts for the IRRS missions to EU countries.

A joint ENSREG/IAEA workshop will be held every 2 years to discuss issues and trends arising from the IRRS missions to EU countries.

IRRS Missions to EU countries: Preparing a mission

Importance of preparing for a mission: early (1-2 y) and structured preparation contributes to a successful mission.

Some countries have performed two-phases self assessment.

Conducting a self-assessment provides a benefit for improving the regulatory organisation.

All national organisations must be involved in the IRRS process from its beginning.

Human resources are to be adequately deployed and trained.

Preparation of the Advanced Reference Material requires significant resources.

IAEA’s SARIS is a helpful tool for the countries to prepare the self-assessment for their missions.

IRRS Missions to EU countries: Hosting a mission

A self-assessment summary report and briefings have proven to be very useful in subsequent phases of the IRRS process.

Findings need to be clearly understandable and actionable so that they are useful to the host country.

Participants noted that the closure of some recommendations and suggestions requires the cooperation of government organizations other than the nuclear regulator that hosted the mission.

The IAEA is working towards the improvement of the IRRS process focusing on training, consultancies, templates, IT tools, etc.

A communication plan may favour the outreach of the IRRS mission to the public and stakeholders.

Financial and human resources are highly demanding for the host country.

Upper management should be involved in all stages of the IRRS mission.

IRRS Missions to EU countries: Follow-up missions

 

Follow-up missions serve as an independent review of the implementation of IRRS findings.

Sufficient time between the mission and the follow-up mission should be given to allow the MS to complete its actions.

Mission leader and experts continuity the main Mission and the Follow-up mission is highly advisable.

Self-assessment may be reconducted in case of major changes in the regulatory infrastructure or the organisation.

Further guidance in reporting Follow-up outcomes would be helpful.

Improvements to regulatory processes resulting from IRRS missions to EU countries (1)

 

Member States having received a mission in 2011-2013 summarized main good practices and improvements identified during the mission.

Following modules were covered:– Governmental Responsibilities and Global Nuclear Safety Regime– Responsibilities and Functions of the Regulatory Body– Management System of the Regulatory Body– Authorisation and Review and Assessment– Inspection and Enforcement– Regulations and Guides– Emergency Preparedness and Response

Improvements to regulatory processes resulting from IRRS missions to EU countries (2)

 

The regulatory authority should coordinate and cooperate with other national authorities.

Maintaining the competence of the regulatory authority (human resources, training, external support).

Developing safety policies and strategies. Reinforce the involvement in international cooperation activities. Addressing explicitly safety culture in the regulator’s

management system. Senior management commitment and active involvement of the

staff, in line with the goals of the organization. Systematic program for self-assessments and internal audits.

Improvements to regulatory processes resulting from IRRS missions to EU countries (3)

 

Existing inspection programme including all regulated areas (incl. waste, transport, fuel cycle, etc.).

Training & certification of inspectors. Joint inspections with other authorities. Periodical review of the effectiveness of the inspection

programme. Enforcement policy well established. Involvement of stakeholders and the public in regulations

development. International and regional collaboration on EPR (training &

exercises).

2nd Workshop on issues and trends arising from the European IRRS Missions. Recommendations

 

ENSREG-WG1 to revise the Terms of Reference for the next workshop.

Focusing on implemented measures. Possibility to include additional modules of the IRRS

missions. Focus on specific issues, rather than collecting findings.

IRRS missions to EU countries: Conclusions

The workshop provided an important opportunity to strengthen the international peer review process.

Discussions were frank and open, and MS representatives participated actively.

The MSs agreed that IRRS missions improve nuclear and radiation safety. In some cases, mission findings have contributed to significant changes in the regulatory organisation.

The support and improvement proposals expressed by participants will contribute to the implementation of the IAEA nuclear safety action plan.

Further cooperation between ENSREG and the IAEA for the coordination of the IRRS Missions to EU countries is included in the existing MoU and should continue.