Memo: Two years after Fukushima – nuclear safety in Europe

Immediately after the accident in the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan on March 11, 2011, the European Union decided to reassess the level of nuclear safety in all nuclear power plants in the EU. This was the first time that:

- A common methodology was developed

- All EU nuclear power plants in the EU were assessed at the same time and

- Multinational teams assessed nuclear power plants.

This was done in close cooperation with the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG), the group of national safety authorities of all 27 Member States.

The European Commission's communication on results of the nuclear stress tests (4 October 2012) based on the ENSREG Report (presented at the June 2012 European Council for information) has revealed that:

- Levels of safety of nuclear power plants in Europe are generally high and no NPP should be shut down for safety reasons.

- A need for significant and tangible improvements has been identified for almost all nuclear power plants.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: EU nuclear Stress tests: Technical report and additional plant visits agreed http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-nuclear-stress-tests-technical-report-and-additional-plant-visits-agreed/

European Commission: Rapid: MEMO/12/731: Communication on nuclear stress test http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-12-731_en.htm?locale=en

European Commission: Rapid: IP/12/1051: Press Release: Nuclear stress tests: confirmation of high safety standards but need for further improvement http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-12-1051_en.htm?locale=en

European nuclear Safety Regulators Group: EU Stress Tests and Follow-up http://www.ensreg.eu/EU-Stress-Tests

ESO: Background Information: Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the comprehensive risk and safety assessments ('stress tests') of nuclear power plants in the European Union and related activities http://www.europeansources.info/record/communication-from-the-commission-to-the-council-and-the-european-parliament-on-the-comprehensive-risk-and-safety-assessments-stress-tests-of-nuclear-power-plants-in-the-european-union-and-related/

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