European Union

Membership of the Republic of Bulgaria in the European community on atomic energy

The Republic of Bulgaria is a member of the European Union as of January 2007 and also member of the European atomic energy community, established by a treaty in 1957.

From the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (the EURATOM treaty) ensue a specific number of obligations for the Republic of Bulgaria with regard to the safety in the use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation in the following manner, namely:

• To incorporate in its legislation the issued on the basis of the EURATOM treaty basic standards for the protection the health of the population from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation, as well as to inform the European commission (EC) on this fact. The incorporation and notification on the implementation of directives in the field of safety in the use of sources of ionizing radiation and transportation of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel lie within the competencies of the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency;
• To notify the EC on the issuing of licenses related to the operation of a new nuclear facility;
• Obligations ensuing from the field of Safeguards for non proliferation of nuclear weapons related to implementation of inspections on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, such as co-ordinating the list of EC inspectors and escort to these inspectors (if there should be a necessity), including obligations ensuing from the enforcement of trilateral instruments for interaction (EURATOM – IAEA – Republic of Bulgaria) in the field of Safeguards.

The implementation of the obligations ensuing from the EURATOM Treaty with regard to the safety in the use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation is ensured by the Act on the Safe Use of Nuclear Energy and the legislative acts adopted in conformity with this act.

Participation in working groups and committees within the institutions of the European Union

As a member of the European Union the Republic of Bulgaria participates through its representatives in the working groups and committees within the institutions of the European Union.

The representatives from the Republic of Bulgaria in these structures, dealing with issues related to the safety in the use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation comprise of experts from the Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NRA). The chairman and deputy chairman of the NRA participate in the activities of the High level group on issues of nuclear safety and management of radioactive waste (former High level group, at present ENSREG). The group has been created with a limited mandate with view of intrusion at the highest level to make uniform the political framework of the activities of national authorities, regulating the safety in the use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation. The head of the department “Regulation of safety in nuclear facilities” of the NRA participates in the ENSREG subgroup “Nuclear Safety”.

The Deputy chairman of the NRA takes part also in the work of the Scientific and technical committee of EURATOM. The head of the department “Radiation protection and emergency preparedness has been designated as the Bulgarian representative pursuant to art. 31 and art.37 of the EURATOM Treaty. NRA experts take part in the working groups of the EC on issues of nuclear energy, namely, regulators assistance and management group (RAMG), system for urgent notification in case of a nuclear accident (ECURIE), on matters of application of the EUAROTM Safeguards, in the Advisory Committee on implementation of directive 2006/117/EURATOM for surveillance and control over the transport of radioactive materials and spent nuclear fuel.