Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC)

Via the INSC the following specific objectives are pursued:

• The promotion of an effective nuclear safety culture and implementation of the highest nuclear safety and radiation protection standards, and continuous improvement of nuclear safety

• Responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste and remediation of former nuclear sites and installations

• The establishment of frameworks and methodologies for the application of efficient and effective safeguards for nuclear material in third countries

As part of the preventive approach the instrument provides, for the first time, support to the upgrading of regulatory frameworks in countries in Africa. The aim is to ensure that uranium mining respects high safety and environmental standards. Initiatives to improve the day-to-day situation of the population in and around Chernobyl continue. A special programme for dealing with the uranium legacy in parts of Central Asia shall be implemented together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

2014-2020

The assistance is implemented on the basis of multiannual strategy papers and multiannual indicative programmes. The strategy papers cover one or more countries for a maximum of seven years and contain multiannual indicative programmes specifying the key objectives and indicative financial allocations. On the basis of these documents, the Commission adopts annual action programmes. The financing may take the form of projects or programmes, grants to fund measures, contributions to guarantee funds and national or international funds, or even human or material resources. Actions financed may be either entirely funded by the EU or co-financed with one or more partners.

Supported activities

• Actions improving nuclear safety, particularly management of nuclear plants
• Accident prevention activities
• Promotional actions on international cooperation in the field of nuclear safety
• Activities related to safe transport, treatment and disposal of radioactive waste
• Actions related to the remediation of former nuclear sites

The following measures may be supported:

(a) The promotion of an effective nuclear safety culture and implementation of the highest nuclear safety standards and radiation protection at all levels, in particular through:

• continuous support for regulatory bodies, technical support organisations, and the reinforcement of the regulatory framework;
• the promotion of effective regulatory frameworks, procedures and systems;
• the establishment of effective arrangements for the prevention of accidents with radiological consequences as well as the mitigation of such consequences should they occur, and for emergency-planning, preparedness and response, civil protection and rehabilitation measures.
• support to nuclear operators, in exceptional cases, under specific and well justified circumstances;

(b) Responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, decommission and remediation of former nuclear sites and installations, in particular through:

• cooperation with third countries in the domain of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste management (i.e. transport, pre-treatment, treatment, processing, storage and disposal), including the development of specific strategies and frameworks for the responsible management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste;
• the development and implementation of strategies and frameworks for decommissioning existing installations, for the remediation of former nuclear sites and legacy sites related to uranium mining, and for the recovery and management of sunken radioactive objects and material at sea;
• The establishment of the necessary regulatory framework and methodologies (including nuclear forensics methods) for the implementation of nuclear safeguards, including for the proper accounting and control of fissile materials at State and operators' level;
• Measures to promote international cooperation (including in the framework of relevant international organisations, notably IAEA) in the above fields, including the implementation and monitoring of international Conventions and Treaties, exchange of information, capacity building and training in the area of nuclear safety and research.

These measures shall include a substantial element of know-how transfer in order to reinforce sustainability of the results achieved. They must be implemented through cooperation with third countries’ authorities, nuclear regulators and their technical support organisations and, in specific cases, with nuclear operators. The measures should also be supported by exploiting further synergies with the direct and indirect actions of the Euratom Framework Programmes in nuclear research and training.

Implementation

The assistance is implemented on the basis of multiannual strategy papers and multiannual indicative programmes. The strategy papers cover one or more countries for a maximum of seven years and contain multiannual indicative programmes specifying the key objectives and indicative financial allocations. On the basis of these documents, the Commission adopts annual action programmes. The financing may take the form of projects or programmes, grants to fund measures, contributions to guarantee funds and national or international funds, or even human or material resources. Actions financed may be either entirely funded by the EU or co-financed with one or more partners.

Legal basis: COUNCIL REGULATION (EURATOM) No 237/2014 of 13 December 2013 establishing an Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation

EUR 225,3 million

There is no particular deadline for this call.

EUR 631,1 million

The entities which are eligible for funding are:

• partner countries and regions and their decentralised bodies,
• public and parastatal bodies,
• private companies,
• non-state actors such as non-governmental organisations or professional associations,
• natural persons,
• the Joint Research Centre or EU agencies,
• international organisations and financial institutions.

In case of call for proposals and tenders: each of them will specify in related documents the eligibility criteria for that specific call or tender.

The geographic scope of the Instrument includes decentralised bodies, private companies, non-state actors such as non-governmental organisations or professional associations, natural persons, the Joint Research Centre or EU agencies, international organisations and financial institutions from third countries (with special focus on Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and Kazakhstan, Northern African, ACP and Latin American countries).

European Union countries.