Legal Issues and Their Impact on Nuclear Energy Development
Biennial Congress of International Nuclear Lawyers Held in Buenos Aires
Over 150 participants from approximately 40 countries,
representing governments, civil society and industry worldwide attended
the 21st Biennial Congress of the International Nuclear Law Association
in Buenos Aires. (Photo: INLA)
Senior nuclear law specialists from the IAEA recently participated
in a leading international conference that provided an opportunity to
address a number of legal issues raised in the context of the current
political and economic climate and its impact on the development of
nuclear energy.
The venue was the 21st Biennial Congress of the International Nuclear Law Association (INLA), which was held from 20 to 23 October 2014, at the Palacio San Martín (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto), Buenos Aires, Argentina. Over 150 participants from approximately 40 countries, representing governments, civil society and industry worldwide, attended the Conference.
Peri L. Johnson, IAEA Legal Adviser and Director of the IAEA Office of Legal Affairs, delivered the opening address of the Congress, where she highlighted developments in nuclear law since the last INLA Congress in Manchester, UK, in 2012.
"The past years have seen increased adherence to and implementation of many of the relevant international nuclear legal instruments," Ms. Johnson said. "In the area of nuclear safety, much work has been undertaken to strengthen the implementation of the international legal framework, particularly, further to the Fukushima accident and the implementation of the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety."
Furthermore, she stated that "in the area of nuclear security and nuclear liability, the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and the 1997 Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC), still need to enter into force but there have been significant developments and she hoped to report positive news to the next INLA Congress."
Key subjects discussed during the three day congress included: radiation protection; nuclear safety and licensing; the safety and security of radioactive sources; radioactive waste management; nuclear new-build; nuclear liability and insurance; nuclear security; and non-proliferation. As with past congresses, the IAEA extended its patronage and also supported the participation of a number of legal experts from Member States.
At the panel discussion on nuclear security, Ms. Johnson introduced her paper on the challenges, issues and benefits associated with facilitating the entry into force and implementation of the Amendment to the CPPNM. She reiterated the statement by IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano that the "entry into force of the [Amendment] is the most important step which the international community can take in strengthening nuclear security globally."
Also, representing the IAEA was Wolfram Tonhauser, Head, Nuclear and Treaty Law Section, Office of Legal Affairs. Mr. Tonhauser was Chair of the panel discussion on radioactive sources, and presented the role of the IAEA in supporting nuclear power programmes and participated in the panel discussions on civil liability for nuclear damage.
Background
The purpose of the INLA, which was created in 1972, is to promote the study of legal issues associated with the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to encourage the exchange of information in this field. Every two years, it organizes a Congress called Nuclear Inter Jura in which nuclear lawyers worldwide participate. The Statutes of INLA, a non-profit international association under Belgian law, were signed in December 1970 in Brussels where it is still based. The Founding General Assembly took place in Basle in 1972 and the first INLA Congress was held in Karlsruhe in September 1973. After some 40 years of existence, INLA has about 600 members spread over the world. Members represent international or government agencies, nuclear-oriented corporations and educational institutions, such as universities or think-tanks.
The past congresses include Manchester, UK in 2012; Toronto, Canada in 2009; Brussels, Belgium in 2007; Portorož, Slovenia in 2005 and Cape Town, South Africa in 2003. Further information on INLA can be found on its website.
The venue was the 21st Biennial Congress of the International Nuclear Law Association (INLA), which was held from 20 to 23 October 2014, at the Palacio San Martín (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto), Buenos Aires, Argentina. Over 150 participants from approximately 40 countries, representing governments, civil society and industry worldwide, attended the Conference.
Peri L. Johnson, IAEA Legal Adviser and Director of the IAEA Office of Legal Affairs, delivered the opening address of the Congress, where she highlighted developments in nuclear law since the last INLA Congress in Manchester, UK, in 2012.
"The past years have seen increased adherence to and implementation of many of the relevant international nuclear legal instruments," Ms. Johnson said. "In the area of nuclear safety, much work has been undertaken to strengthen the implementation of the international legal framework, particularly, further to the Fukushima accident and the implementation of the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety."
Furthermore, she stated that "in the area of nuclear security and nuclear liability, the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and the 1997 Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC), still need to enter into force but there have been significant developments and she hoped to report positive news to the next INLA Congress."
Key subjects discussed during the three day congress included: radiation protection; nuclear safety and licensing; the safety and security of radioactive sources; radioactive waste management; nuclear new-build; nuclear liability and insurance; nuclear security; and non-proliferation. As with past congresses, the IAEA extended its patronage and also supported the participation of a number of legal experts from Member States.
At the panel discussion on nuclear security, Ms. Johnson introduced her paper on the challenges, issues and benefits associated with facilitating the entry into force and implementation of the Amendment to the CPPNM. She reiterated the statement by IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano that the "entry into force of the [Amendment] is the most important step which the international community can take in strengthening nuclear security globally."
Also, representing the IAEA was Wolfram Tonhauser, Head, Nuclear and Treaty Law Section, Office of Legal Affairs. Mr. Tonhauser was Chair of the panel discussion on radioactive sources, and presented the role of the IAEA in supporting nuclear power programmes and participated in the panel discussions on civil liability for nuclear damage.
Background
The purpose of the INLA, which was created in 1972, is to promote the study of legal issues associated with the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to encourage the exchange of information in this field. Every two years, it organizes a Congress called Nuclear Inter Jura in which nuclear lawyers worldwide participate. The Statutes of INLA, a non-profit international association under Belgian law, were signed in December 1970 in Brussels where it is still based. The Founding General Assembly took place in Basle in 1972 and the first INLA Congress was held in Karlsruhe in September 1973. After some 40 years of existence, INLA has about 600 members spread over the world. Members represent international or government agencies, nuclear-oriented corporations and educational institutions, such as universities or think-tanks.
The past congresses include Manchester, UK in 2012; Toronto, Canada in 2009; Brussels, Belgium in 2007; Portorož, Slovenia in 2005 and Cape Town, South Africa in 2003. Further information on INLA can be found on its website.
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