Press release

During 9-11 April 2019, a workshop on civil liability for nuclear damage for European countries has been held in Bucharest. This event was organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and was hosted by the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN).

About 80 representatives from the countries eligible for receiving IAEA technical assistance, from the European Commission, IAEA, International Expert Group on Nuclear Liability (INLEX) and nuclear insurance risk companies gathered in this event whose aim was to disseminate to the participants the principles governing the civil liability and the interconnection of the conventions’ provisions in the field.

The opening session also benefitted of the presence of the Romanian Government representative who underlined the involvement of the national institutions in implementing the main provisions of the civil liability regime. It has been also recalled the support as given to the Romanian Nuclear Regulatory Authority in the process to define the regime of civil liability for nuclear damages and, consequently in assuring a high level of nuclear and radiological safety with the view to protect the public and the environment.

One of the workshop’s purpose was to provide information on the existing international nuclear liability regime, in particular with reference to the instruments adopted under the auspices of the IAEA, including the Protocol to Amend the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage and the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage.

Through their presentations, the lecturers intended to advise on specific issues related to nuclear liability and to contribute to the worldwide adherence by nuclear and non-nuclear States to the legal framework in place. The presentations have been followed by discussions and case studies through which the participants received the specialized legal opinion of the IAEA and INLEX representatives with respect both to the application of the main principles governing the civil liability regime and to the setting-up of their national framework, and received advise how to better manage their own difficulties on implementing the international legal provisions.