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Nuclear waste: Commission welcomes adoption of radioactive waste directive

On 19 July 2011, the Council has adopted the "radioactive waste and spent fuel management directive", proposed by the Commission on 3rd November 2010. With this adoption, the Directive will enter into force at the latest in September this 2011, and Member States have to submit the first national programmes in 2015.

Press releaseAll available translations.

Council Directive 2011/70/Euratom of 19 July 2011

Management of nuclear waste: Commission proposes high level EU standards

On 3 November 2010, the European Commission has proposed a Directive which sets safety standards for disposing spent fuel and radioactive waste from nuclear power plants as well as from medicine or research.

In the Directive put forward today, Member States are asked to present national programmes, indicating when, where and how they will construct and manage final repositories aimed at guaranteeing the highest safety standards. With the Directive internationally agreed safety standards become legally binding and enforceable in the European Union.

Radioactive waste is not only produced in those states that use nuclear for electricity generation, but also by many other applications, be it radiotherapies or industrial tests. Its safe management is therefore a challenge for all Member States, irrespective of their stance on nuclear.

While low and medium level radioactive waste is increasingly being taken care of, there is not yet a single final repository for high-level radioactive waste and spent fuel. It is likely, however, that the first such repositories will be opened between 2020 and 2025 in several EU Member States.

It is necessary that now all Member States deal with radioactive waste in a responsible and transparent manner and establish national frameworks and programs for the management of all types of radioactive waste and spent fuel. The generations benefiting from nuclear power and applications of radioactive materials should also take care of the waste and the financing thereof.

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