ACN - Aarhus Convention & NuclearACN - Aarhus Convention & Nuclear

Aarhus Convention Aarhus Convention and Nuclearand Nuclear

2009-20112009-2011

F. Guillaud, ANCCLIF. Guillaud, ANCCLIS. Gadbois, MutadisS. Gadbois, Mutadis

25 October 2010 – Geneva, UNECE – Aarhus Convention 25 October 2010 – Geneva, UNECE – Aarhus Convention

Public Participation Task ForcePublic Participation Task Force

ANCCLI - Association Nationale ANCCLI - Association Nationale des Commissions Locales des Commissions Locales

d’Informationd’Information► Local Information CommissionsLocal Information Commissions

A pluralist body A pluralist body 4 colleges : elected representatives, NGOs, 4 colleges : elected representatives, NGOs,

trade unions, expertstrade unions, experts In charge of information and oversight of In charge of information and oversight of

nuclear activitiesnuclear activities 30 years of experience30 years of experience

►Created in 1981 by the Prime MinisterCreated in 1981 by the Prime Minister►Recognized by 2006 law on nuclear safety and Recognized by 2006 law on nuclear safety and

transparency transparency ►Federated in a national association (ANCCLI) since Federated in a national association (ANCCLI) since

20002000

ANCCLI - Association Nationale ANCCLI - Association Nationale des Commissions Locales des Commissions Locales

d’Informationd’Information

►Local Information CommissionsLocal Information Commissions (CLI) (CLI) Oversight of nuclear activities Oversight of nuclear activities Regular meetingsRegular meetings Request of information and analyseRequest of information and analyse Participation in public enquiriesParticipation in public enquiries Intervention in case of problemsIntervention in case of problems Studies (examples : environment - SEIVA Studies (examples : environment - SEIVA

tritium, CLI Gard sand; safety – Periodic tritium, CLI Gard sand; safety – Periodic Safety reviews,…)Safety reviews,…)

ANCCLI - ANCCLI - Association Nationale des Association Nationale des Commissions Locales d’InformationCommissions Locales d’Information

► Coordination of CLI, Liaison with ASN (safety authority)Coordination of CLI, Liaison with ASN (safety authority)► Scientific Committee Scientific Committee ► Permanent GroupsPermanent Groups

Radioactive waste, safety of reactor, post-accidentRadioactive waste, safety of reactor, post-accident

► Annual general assembly / CLI Conference with ASNAnnual general assembly / CLI Conference with ASN► White Paper on the governance of nuclear activities, White Paper on the governance of nuclear activities,

20052005► White Paper on radioactive waste management, 2006White Paper on radioactive waste management, 2006

Context of the Aarhus Convention Context of the Aarhus Convention and Nuclear (ACN) initiativeand Nuclear (ACN) initiative

► European Forum of Nuclear EnergyEuropean Forum of Nuclear Energy Transparency Transparency working group, Aarhus reflection working group, Aarhus reflection

started by ANCCLI (questionnaire started by ANCCLI (questionnaire 2008)2008)

► European workshop « Aarhus and European workshop « Aarhus and Nuclear », 24-25 june 2009 (ANCLI, EC DG Nuclear », 24-25 june 2009 (ANCLI, EC DG TREN) launch the ACN TREN) launch the ACN Aarhus Convention Aarhus Convention and Nuclear and Nuclear initiativeinitiative Participation of 15 member statesParticipation of 15 member states Significant participation of civil societySignificant participation of civil society

Conclusions of the ACN European Conclusions of the ACN European workshop, June 2009workshop, June 2009

►First assessmentFirst assessment The convention applies to nuclear The convention applies to nuclear

activitiesactivities The implementation of the Aarhus The implementation of the Aarhus

Convention doesn’t meet expectations, Convention doesn’t meet expectations, even though progress is reportedeven though progress is reported

The The Aarhus Convention Aarhus Convention is is implemented as far as legal translation implemented as far as legal translation is concerned, but its is concerned, but its practical practical implementionimplemention must progressmust progress

Conclusions of the ACN European Conclusions of the ACN European workshop, June 2009workshop, June 2009

► Legal obligations and active co-Legal obligations and active co-experimentation complement one the experimentation complement one the otherother Opening up of institutions : change in law, Opening up of institutions : change in law,

institutions, expertise… institutions, expertise… Stronger participation of local actors : capacity Stronger participation of local actors : capacity

building, empowerment, citizen building, empowerment, citizen investigations…investigations…

Through pilot actions, field work…Through pilot actions, field work…

Conclusions of the ACN European Conclusions of the ACN European workshop, June 2009workshop, June 2009

► A single EU framework BUT the context for A single EU framework BUT the context for implementation is implementation is different from one country different from one country to the otherto the other

► Equally it is different Equally it is different from one type of nuclear from one type of nuclear activity to the other or from one type of activity to the other or from one type of impact to the other impact to the other (safety, environment, waste (safety, environment, waste management, post-accident, decommissioning) management, post-accident, decommissioning)

► Aarhus Convention implementation in the nuclear Aarhus Convention implementation in the nuclear field requires translation and adaptation to each field requires translation and adaptation to each contextcontext

ParticipantsParticipants

► ANCCLI / European Commission (DG ENER) ANCCLI / European Commission (DG ENER) initiativeinitiative

► In partnership with ENEF, Aarhus convention In partnership with ENEF, Aarhus convention secretariat, EU presidencies, European secretariat, EU presidencies, European Economic and Social Committee, REC, Economic and Social Committee, REC, Greenpeace, MEEDM, IRSN, ASN, industry, Greenpeace, MEEDM, IRSN, ASN, industry, experts, civil society organisations in the experts, civil society organisations in the EU… EU…

Objectives and methodologyObjectives and methodologyof the ACN initiativeof the ACN initiative

►Build a European space of dialogue Build a European space of dialogue with a view to improve the with a view to improve the practical practical implementaion of the implementaion of the Aarhus conventionAarhus convention

►Develop a network of local actors Develop a network of local actors and citizens on these issuesand citizens on these issues Strenghten democratic culture in the Strenghten democratic culture in the

nuclear fieldnuclear field

Objectives and methodology Objectives and methodology of ACN initiativeof ACN initiative

►Pluralist and pluridisciplinary Pluralist and pluridisciplinary institutions and civil societyinstitutions and civil society Legal aspects, and « practical » Legal aspects, and « practical »

governance arrangements governance arrangements

►Starting from existing situationsStarting from existing situations►Methodology :Methodology :

National round tables National round tables European round tables European round tables

Methodology (1)Methodology (1)

►National round tables National round tables Usually at the initiative of civil societyUsually at the initiative of civil society With institutional supportWith institutional support A plural group A plural group

► Analyses good and bad practices in terms of Analyses good and bad practices in terms of information, participation and access to information, participation and access to justice, on the basis of case studiesjustice, on the basis of case studies

► Identifies opportunities of progress, in contextIdentifies opportunities of progress, in context► Makes proposalsMakes proposals

Methodology (2)Methodology (2)

► European round tables (Luxembourg) on European round tables (Luxembourg) on cross-cutting issuescross-cutting issues1.1. Aarhus Convention and radioactive waste Aarhus Convention and radioactive waste

management (8-9 April 2010)management (8-9 April 2010)2.2. Access to expertise and capacity building (20-21 Access to expertise and capacity building (20-21

january 2011)january 2011)3.3. Aarhus convention and Euratom treaty, Aarhus convention and Euratom treaty,

transparency and confidentiality (to be confirmed)transparency and confidentiality (to be confirmed)

► Final conference (Luxembourg)Final conference (Luxembourg) Second semester 2011Second semester 2011

Examples of issuesExamples of issuesParticipation (ex. waste)Participation (ex. waste)

► Participation of local actors in the site Participation of local actors in the site selection process (ex. Belgian, Slovene, selection process (ex. Belgian, Slovene, UK partnerships)UK partnerships)

► Conditions for participation : Conditions for participation : No fixed deadlineNo fixed deadline Right of withdrawal for communitiesRight of withdrawal for communities Ressources for local actors to build Ressources for local actors to build

competence (« engagement package »)competence (« engagement package ») participation in the socio-technical design of participation in the socio-technical design of

the projectthe project

Examples of issuesExamples of issuesParticipation (ex. waste)Participation (ex. waste)

► Questions / issuesQuestions / issues Link between EIA and licensingLink between EIA and licensing Roles of the partnership and municipal Roles of the partnership and municipal

councilcouncil Weight of the economic dimension Weight of the economic dimension

(compensation)(compensation) Local participation – which participation in Local participation – which participation in

national policy ?national policy ? Links between waste management policy and Links between waste management policy and

other politicies (energy; decommissioning)other politicies (energy; decommissioning) Partnership funding (gov., operator)Partnership funding (gov., operator) Which participation on the long term ?Which participation on the long term ?

Examples of issuesExamples of issuesAccess to informationAccess to information

► Active information =/= Active information =/= corporate corporate communicationcommunication

► Confidentiality and transparencyConfidentiality and transparency Differences between the Aarhus convention Differences between the Aarhus convention

and the Euratom treatyand the Euratom treaty Need for a shared understanding of the Need for a shared understanding of the

convention rights and duties (notably among convention rights and duties (notably among civil servants)civil servants)

► Definition of environmental informationDefinition of environmental information Example : access to data on RWM costs (case Example : access to data on RWM costs (case

law in Belgium and UK)law in Belgium and UK)

Examples of issuesExamples of issuesAccess to justiceAccess to justice

► Different tools according to national Different tools according to national contextscontexts Ombudsman, Court of justiceOmbudsman, Court of justice Which capacity to make binding Which capacity to make binding

recommandations, or bill proposalsrecommandations, or bill proposals► Access to justice as regards access to Access to justice as regards access to

informationinformation Is the information obtained widely public or is Is the information obtained widely public or is

its use limited to the person/organisation its use limited to the person/organisation making an official request?making an official request?

Difference between access right to Difference between access right to information, and right to reuseinformation, and right to reuse

Joint activities PP Task force / Joint activities PP Task force / ACNACN

► Nuclear and public participation : Nuclear and public participation : Issues and questions stemming from the Issues and questions stemming from the

European and national round tablesEuropean and national round tables

► Reflexive analysis of the “ACN method” Reflexive analysis of the “ACN method” and its relevance and applicability to and its relevance and applicability to other fieldsother fields By sectorBy sector National assessment of the implementation of National assessment of the implementation of

the Aarhus convention (national reports)the Aarhus convention (national reports)