On 6 July 2017, there was a seminar at Senningen castle on cross-border protective action in the case of a nuclear accident.
Organised jointly by the Radiation Protection Division of the Directorate of Health and the Office of the High Commissioner for National Protection, the seminar dealt with cross-border coordination of protective actions during the first phase of a nuclear accident using the HERCA-WENRA volunteers and authorities.
Given the proximity of the Cattenom plant, the HERCA-WENRA approach is an obvious challenge for the surrounding area. This approach was adopted by the European Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authorities in October 2014. In the event of an accident, it aims to promote the rapid transmission of information between the countries concerned and the consistency of the recommendations made by the radiation protection and safety authorities. A key principle is that, for the emergency phase, the neighbouring countries must follow the same protective measures.
The seminar, with the participation of 54 high-level representatives, brought together crisis management decision-makers and nuclear experts from the Greater Region, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Indeed, the Cattenom site is the only nuclear site in Europe that is close, not only to one but to several neighbouring countries, adding to the situation’s complexity.
In this sense, the discussions focused on improving the mechanisms of consultation and cross-border cooperation in crisis management, while increasing the protection of populations in the event of a nuclear accident.
Photo of Minister Lydia Mutsch with members of the Radiation Protection Division of the Directorate of Health and the Office of the High Commissioner for National Protection. Copyright HCPN
