18 Nov 2022 11:17

Verkhovna Rada adopts bills to harmonize Ukrainian laws with EU nuclear regulations

MOSCOW. Nov 18 (Interfax) - Three European integration bills aimed to harmonize Ukrainian laws with EU nuclear regulations have passed the second reading in the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada.

"All the bills were listed as European integration documents, consistent with the list of European and Euro-Atlantic integration bills for 2022, and defined by the government as priority," the Ukrainian media said with the reference to the Verkhovna Rada's press service.

For instance, the bill amending the Ukrainian Law on the Use of Nuclear Energy and Radiation Safeguards harmonizes provisions of Council Directive 2014/87/Euratom with provisions of the law that improve nuclear legislation, in particular, amend definitions and timeframes.

The press service said in a statement published on the parliament website that the bill will harmonize terms in Ukrainian and EU legislation and will set qualification requirements for contractors of nuclear energy users.

It will also upgrade requirements to the duty of a nuclear facility operator to take every measure for preventing accidents and mitigating their consequences, and will augment powers of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate in organizing regular assessment of nuclear energy regulations.

Meanwhile, the bill amending the Ukrainian Law on the Use of Nuclear Energy and Radiation Safeguards in regard to a nuclear safeguards expert introduces the institution of nuclear safeguards expert to provide consultations to nuclear facility operators, legal entities, individuals, and authorities on the compliance with nuclear and radiation safety regulations.

The bill sets key requirements to a person who seeks to become a nuclear safeguards expert and names the body to acknowledge the competence of such experts.

"The establishment of the institution of nuclear safeguards expert will raise the efficiency of radiation safeguards for personnel and the population," the press service said.

The third bill amends a number of Ukrainian laws to improve the issuance of nuclear energy permits. It regulates the issuance of permits to nuclear facility operators and the provision of radiation safety consistent with EU laws.

The bill will help optimize the issuance of nuclear energy permits to businesses planning to use sources of ionizing radiation, the press service said.