Enhancing Nuclear Governance in Europe: ACN Initiative

1. ACN - Aarhus Convention & NuclearAarhus Convention and Nuclear2009-2011F. Guillaud, ANCCLIS. Gadbois, Mutadis 25 October 2010 – Geneva, UNECE – Aarhus Convention Public Participation Task Force

2. ANCCLI - Association Nationale des Commissions Locales d’Information • Local Information Commissions • A pluralist body • 4 colleges : elected representatives, NGOs, trade unions, experts • In charge of information and oversight of nuclear activities • 30 years of experience • Created in 1981 by the Prime Minister • Recognized by 2006 law on nuclear safety and transparency • Federated in a national association (ANCCLI) since 2000

3. ANCCLI - Association Nationale des Commissions Locales d’Information • Local Information Commissions (CLI) • Oversight of nuclear activities • Regular meetings • Request of information and analyse • Participation in public enquiries • Intervention in case of problems • Studies (examples : environment - SEIVA tritium, CLI Gard sand; safety – Periodic Safety reviews,…)

4. ANCCLI - Association Nationale des Commissions Locales d’Information • Coordination of CLI, Liaison with ASN (safety authority) • Scientific Committee • Permanent Groups • Radioactive waste, safety of reactor, post-accident • Annual general assembly / CLI Conference with ASN • White Paper on the governance of nuclear activities, 2005 • White Paper on radioactive waste management, 2006

5. Context of the Aarhus Convention and Nuclear (ACN) initiative • European Forum of Nuclear Energy • Transparency working group, Aarhus reflection started by ANCCLI (questionnaire 2008) • European workshop « Aarhus and Nuclear », 24-25 june 2009 (ANCLI, EC DG TREN) launch the ACN Aarhus Convention and Nuclear initiative • Participation of 15 member states • Significant participation of civil society

6. Conclusions of the ACN European workshop, June 2009 • First assessment • The convention applies to nuclear activities • The implementation of the Aarhus Convention doesn’t meet expectations, even though progress is reported • The Aarhus Convention is implemented as far as legal translation is concerned, but its practical implementionmust progress

7. Conclusions of the ACN European workshop, June 2009 • Legal obligations and active co-experimentation complement one the other • Opening up of institutions : change in law, institutions, expertise… • Stronger participation of local actors : capacity building, empowerment, citizen investigations… • Through pilot actions, field work…

8. Conclusions of the ACN European workshop, June 2009 • A single EU framework BUT the context for implementation is different from one country to the other • Equally it is different from one type of nuclear activity to the other or from one type of impact to the other (safety, environment, waste management, post-accident, decommissioning) • Aarhus Convention implementation in the nuclear field requires translation and adaptation to each context

9. Participants • ANCCLI / European Commission (DG ENER) initiative • In partnership with ENEF, Aarhus convention secretariat, EU presidencies, European Economic and Social Committee, REC, Greenpeace, MEEDM, IRSN, ASN, industry, experts, civil society organisations in the EU…

11. Objectives and methodologyof the ACN initiative • Build a European space of dialogue with a view to improve the practical implementaion of the Aarhus convention • Develop a network of local actors and citizens on these issues • Strenghten democratic culture in the nuclear field

12. Objectives and methodology of ACN initiative • Pluralist and pluridisciplinary • institutions and civil society • Legal aspects, and « practical » governance arrangements • Starting from existing situations • Methodology : • National round tables • European round tables

13. Methodology (1) • National round tables • Usually at the initiative of civil society • With institutional support • A plural group • Analyses good and bad practices in terms of information, participation and access to justice, on the basis of case studies • Identifies opportunities of progress, in context • Makes proposals

14. Methodology (2) • European round tables (Luxembourg) on cross-cutting issues • Aarhus Convention and radioactive waste management (8-9 April 2010) • Access to expertise and capacity building (20-21 january 2011) • Aarhus convention and Euratom treaty, transparency and confidentiality (to be confirmed) • Final conference (Luxembourg) • Second semester 2011

15. Examples of issuesParticipation (ex. waste) • Participation of local actors in the site selection process (ex. Belgian, Slovene, UK partnerships) • Conditions for participation : • No fixed deadline • Right of withdrawal for communities • Ressources for local actors to build competence (« engagement package ») • participation in the socio-technical design of the project

16. Examples of issuesParticipation (ex. waste) • Questions / issues • Link between EIA and licensing • Roles of the partnership and municipal council • Weight of the economic dimension (compensation) • Local participation – which participation in national policy ? • Links between waste management policy and other politicies (energy; decommissioning) • Partnership funding (gov., operator) • Which participation on the long term ?

17. Examples of issuesAccess to information • Active information =/= corporate communication • Confidentiality and transparency • Differences between the Aarhus convention and the Euratom treaty • Need for a shared understanding of the convention rights and duties (notably among civil servants) • Definition of environmental information • Example : access to data on RWM costs (case law in Belgium and UK)

18. Examples of issuesAccess to justice • Different tools according to national contexts • Ombudsman, Court of justice • Which capacity to make binding recommandations, or bill proposals • Access to justice as regards access to information • Is the information obtained widely public or is its use limited to the person/organisation making an official request? • Difference between access right to information, and right to reuse

19. Joint activities PP Task force / ACN • Nuclear and public participation : • Issues and questions stemming from the European and national round tables • Reflexive analysis of the “ACN method” and its relevance and applicability to other fields • By sector • National assessment of the implementation of the Aarhus convention (national reports)