WPAQ/AQG

One of the most important working groups of the Council of the European Union (Council) from the point of view of nuclear safety is the Working Party on Atomic Questions (WPAQ/AQG).

YEAR 2023

In the first half of 2023, the EU Council was chaired by Sweden (SE PRES) and in the second half of the year by Spain (ES PRES). Experts of the UJD SR participated in the meetings of the WPAQ as required, while the position of the SR was prepared for each meeting in close cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of the SR and the Permanent Representation of the SR to the EU in Brussels. The current security situation in Ukraine (UA) resonated during both the SE PRES and ES PRES meetings, in particular the report on the activities of the EC and the IAEA in relation to UA and the impact of Russia’s (RU) military aggression on the UA nuclear facilities. Furthermore, the WPAQ meetings included the preparation of the Joint 8^th and 9^th Review Meetings of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, information from the European Supply Agency, the Joint Research Centre and the EC briefed the Member States on other topical issues (e.g. security of supply, implementation of the INSC instrument, medical radioisotopes, small modular reactors). The Slovak Republic reported on the results of the ARTEMIS mission and on the process of commissioning and start-up of Unit 3 of the Mochovce NPP.

YEAR 2022

In 2022, the Council of the EU was chaired by Finland in the first half of 2022 and by the Czech Republic in the second half of 2022. Since March 2022, both presidencies have addressed the issue of military aggression by the Russian Federation and the armed conflict in Ukraine. Other topical issues were the preparation of the Declaration to the Review Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its Amendment (CPPNM/A), the EU Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation for 2021-2027, the preparation of draft responses to questions concerning the Euratom Community Report to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel and RAW Management, the Euratom Community report on the Convention on Nuclear Safety, information from the European Supply Agency, the Joint Research Centre, new innovative nuclear technologies and small modular reactors and other topics were discussed. The Slovak Republic reported on the progress and results of the IAEA IRRS Mission, as well as on the process of commissioning of Unit 3 of the Mochovce NPP.

YEAR 2021

The activities of 2021 were marked by the continued global measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the related restrictions. Personal meetings were fully replaced by video conferences. In the first half of 2021, the Council of the EU was chaired by Portugal (PT PRES) and in the second half of 2021 by Slovenia (SI PRES). Participation of the SK delegation was ensured in close cooperation with the Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the EU in Brussels. In February 2021, on request of the SK delegation within the AOB, information from the December meeting of the ESPOO relating the guidelines for the application of LTO was presented. Other key topics were Brexit with the aim of informing about the practical implementation of the Agreement on cooperation in the field of nuclear safety, preparation of the Review Conference on the CPPNM/A (SK together with BE and CZ supported FR and ES’s comments that the physical protection of nuclear materials is fully the responsibility of the MS), merging the 8th and 9th Review meeting on the CNS, ENSREG report and activities, SAMIRA Action Plan, establishment of the NuBaFA expert group on financial aspects of nuclear decommissioning and management of RAW and SNF, procedural arrangements for negotiations on the update of the Energy Charter Treaty and other topics.

YEAR 2020

In the first half of 2020, the Council was chaired by Croatia (HR PRES). Regular meetings of the WPAQ took place only in January and February. The meetings in person were cancelled because of Covid-19 pandemic situation. Virtual meetings took place in May and June, followed by written communication. In February 2020, Special Report No. 3 of the European Court of Auditors entitled “The Commission contributes to nuclear safety in the EU, but updates required” (Report) was published. HR PRES proposed the draft Council Conclusions to Report in March. Subsequently, the Report was discussed, comments were made and a compromise text was reached, which was approved by the silent procedure of the WPAQ, the written procedure of Coreper2 and the Council on 29 June 2020. In the second half of 2020, during the German Presidency (DE PRES), virtual meetings of the WPAQ were organized to a limited extent. The key issues which were discussed are the following: the completion of discussions on regulations under the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, especially on updated regulation on the european instrument for nuclear safety for the third countries, the regulation on continuation of financing the decommissioning of Bohunice V1 after 2020 and the Euratom Report on the 7th Review Meeting of the Joint Convention on the Safe Management of Radioactive Waste and the Safe Management of Spent Fuel.

YEAR 2019

In 2019, AQG took place eighteen times. In the first half of 2019, the Presidency of the Council was held by Romania (RO PRES). The frequency of AQG meetings during RO PRES was relatively intense given by the extensive agenda, in particularly the discussions on the draft Council conclusions to strengthen the safety of nuclear installations through better physical protection. Most Member States, including the Slovak Republic, rejected and did not support it due to the reason that the topic is out of competences of the Euratom Treaty. On the other side the adopted Council Conclusions on the non-energy use of nuclear and radiation technologies were widely supported. From each Member State three examples of good practice were given on this issue. Subsequently RO PRES published them in a Summary brochure. At the same time the AQG and the Council adopted the Council Conclusions on the first topical peer review on nuclear safety in March 2019. The conclusions have highlighted this evaluation process at the highest political level and to encourage the Member States to draw up national action plans and to implement the identified improvements in practice. In the second half of 2019, Finland chaired the Council (FI PRES). Thematically FI PRES following the RO PRES on the topic of non-energy use of nuclear and radiation technologies. Within the AQG, preparations for the 8th Review Meeting for the Convention on Nuclear Safety began, which would be held in spring 2020 at the IAEA in Vienna.