The management of radioactive waste in the European Union - Opinions, situation and proposal for changes

Radioactive waste is seen by many as the major issue for nuclear energy. It is a widely held view that the nuclear option can only remain open if all radioactive wastes can be managed in a safe and sustainable way. Public opinion surveys conducted by the European Commission show that while they know little about radioactive waste, the Public feel concerned about it and have very little trust in the nuclear industry. Most do not realize that the industry is already safely disposing of a high percentage of the waste that it generates. However, no long-lived high-level waste has yet been disposed of in the European Union and progress towards identifying a disposal route has been too slow in several States. There is a growing need to guarantee a high level of nuclear safety across a soon to be enlarged European Union. The Commission's proposal for legislation covering spent fuel and radioactive waste should be an important step in achieving this. The paper is structured in three parts (Part A., Part B. Part C.) with the following content: Part A. Public Opinion on radioactive waste: People are worried about radioactive waste; People are not well informed about radioactive waste; What is done with low-level radioactive waste?; Trusted sources of information; Accurate reporting; Why has high-level waste not been disposed of?; Some interesting perceptions about nuclear in relation to other energy sources; Do you agree that...?; Some key messages from the Public; Part B. Radioactive Waste Management: The present situation; The biggest issue for radioactive waste management; Part C. The 'nuclear package': A community approach to nuclear safety; Decommissioning funds; Management of spent fuel and radioactive waste; The proposed new legislation The objective of the nuclear package, in particular of the proposed new legislation, is to try to provide better guarantees of a high level of nuclear safety throughout and enlarged European Union. The proposed legislation will impact in a number of ways on the management of radioactive waste in the EU: - It will promote the development of common standards and good practices for spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste management; - It will require the establishment of segregated funds that will cover all nuclear liabilities that remain at the end of life of nuclear installations, including for the management of the spent nuclear fuel and waste; - It will require Member States to establish clearly defined programmes for waste management, including a firm time scale for disposal, and encourage a higher level and better co-ordinated research across the Union. The proposals do not depend on future decisions about the role of nuclear energy. In the Commission's view the European Council should adopt them before the end of 2003. They should then be implemented as quickly as possible - preferably before enlargement takes place - regardless of any changes in policy on the nuclear option