Nordic safety research aims at maintaining knowledge and harmonizing views

A fourth Nordic safety programme has just started. Apart from Finland it is only Sweden, out of the five Nordic countries, who has nuclear power plants. Why then is it of interest to maintain joint Nordic research on safety questions related to nuclear powers. After Chernobyl there has been a growing awareness of the need for a competent staff even in countries without own nuclear plants. All the Nordic countries are in some way surrounded by or in contact with nuclear installations at a certain distance. They must all be able to judge the safety, take necessary countermeasures, and be well informed, should news about unwanted events appear. Such competence is also needed to satisfy the requirements of international and bilateral conventions which the individual Nordic countries have undersigned. These conventions deal with exchange of information and with mutual assistance related to nuclear accidents