Reactor safety in Eastern Europe. An interim report on improvements achieved under the assistance programmes of the Federal Republic of Germany

The Western states are strongly involved in the urgent activities for improving nuclear power plant safety in East European countries. Several and extensive assistance programmes have been made available for this purpose since the early 1990s. The Federal Republic of Germany plays a leading role in cooperative activities with East European countries for the purpose of improving reactor safety. The major German assistance programmes available are those of the BMU (Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Reactor Technology) and the BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Technology), and Germany also contributes to international programmes. The document presents an interim status report on achievements so far and an outlook on further required activities. The supervisory authorities in Eastern Europe responsible for reactor safety have been supported in building up independent supervisory bodies and technical competence in line with international standards. The scope of cooperative research activities has been enlarged, and safety-related improvements have been put into place in existing rectors, but it will take quite some time still and strong efforts until nuclear safety in Eastern Europe will have reached Western standards. (orig./CB)