Networking activities in ETSON

Nuclear Safety Convention, EU Council Directive 2014/87/Euratom of 8 July 2014 amending Directive 2009/71/Euratom establishing a Community framework for the nuclear safety of nuclear installations and a number of publications of the IAEA and OECD Nuclear Energy Agency declare the vital role of the state, even in today's market conditions, in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy, in particular in creating the political, legal and regulatory framework and long-term strategy with a focus on sustainability and public awareness. The key is in particular the regulatory role of the state in the field of nuclear safety and the necessary expertise in this area. In a number of countries operating nuclear power plants there exist independent scientific expert organizations, so called ''Technical Safety Organizations - TSO'', providing a comprehensive view of the long-term safety of nuclear installations and maintaining a high level of expertise on the basis of research and development activities. The paper describes the basic mission of TSO organizations - support of state regulatory authority in the form of an independent expert, analytical and research services in the field of nuclear safety and radiation protection - and the ways of its implementing. The need for increased co-operation and reinforced sharing of experience in the field of nuclear safety expertise emboldened the competent organizations with nuclear safety expertise in Europe to establish an ETSON association (European Technical Safety Organization Network) - a network aimed in promoting close cooperation on harmonized approaches to safety issues and their assessments. The paper describes the structure of ETSON association, methods of its working and summarizes the main recent activities and achievements. (author)