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BERR is responsible for co-ordinating UK policy on international nuclear safety issues, liaison with the IAEA Department of Nuclear Safety and Security and the submission of the UK's report under the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS). Fifty-three countries and the European Commission (referred to as contracting parties) have ratified the CNS, which aims to improve nuclear safety at nuclear power stations worldwide through a process of peer review. Each of these countries is required to submit a report on how it meets the relevant articles of the Convention, and undergo peer review during the Review Meetings, which take place at approximately three-yearly intervals. The most recent of these Review Meetings took place from 8 to 19 April 2005. Details of the review and the UK's report can be found on the Convention on Nuclear Safety page in this section of the website.
In May 2003, the European Commission formally presented to the Council two Directives which form the main part of their Nuclear Package. One of the Directives is on the safety of nuclear installations, the other concerns the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste. Although the safety Directive is not formally described as a Framework Directive, the Commission’s Explanatory Memorandum confirms that their intention is to develop detailed operational standards using the Euratom Article 31 group of experts. The UK Government launched a formal consultation exercise to obtain views on this proposal, and the Government response to those views received was published in 2003.