2026

A delegation from the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN, by its acronym in Spanish) has participated this week in the eighth edition of the European Conference on Nuclear Safety, organised by the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) and the European Commission. The meeting, held in Brussels, brought together more than three hundred professionals from the main stakeholders across the European Union's nuclear sector, alongside invited experts from third countries.

The main theme of the conference focused on the regulation of nuclear safety within a changing and challenging environment, specifically exploring how regulatory authorities, in their capacity as public service providers, face a variety of shifting expectations. In this regard, discussions highlighted the importance of combining high levels of safety with more agile, proportionate and risk-informed regulatory frameworks.

During the opening of the conference, the President of the CSN and current Chair of ENSREG, Juan Carlos Lentijo, addressed the nuclear landscape, highlighting several challenges facing the sector, including technological innovation, changes in the energy environment and emerging risks.

Lentijo emphasised that, regardless of these challenges, nuclear safety must remain the highest priority and continue to serve as the fundamental core of all regulatory activity.

To address these challenges, the CSN´s president highlighted three essential pillars. Firstly, technical competence, which he described as an "indispensable" foundation for regulatory decision-making. He pointed out the vital need to strengthen training in new nuclear technologies, build project management and leadership skills, and integrate capabilities in digitalisation, artificial intelligence and information technology.

Lentijo also emphasised the importance of maintaining independent, in-house R&D capabilities. According to him, research helps reduce the uncertainties generated by factors such as novel technologies, paving the way towards proportionate and evidence-based regulatory approaches.

Lentijo also emphasised the importance of maintaining independent, in-house R&D capabilities, highlighting that research serves to reduce the uncertainties generated by factors such as novel technologies, thereby paving the way towards proportionate and evidence-based regulatory approaches.

Furthermore, ENSREG chairman stressed the need for early interaction with stakeholders, both from the inception of projects and throughout their successive stages. This approach aims to enhance the clarity of regulatory processes and reinforce public trust. He also championed the role of regulators in contributing to technological innovation by ensuring that the highest safety standards are maintained during its deployment.

The session dedicated to preserving public trust in nuclear safety was moderated by the CSN's Deputy Director for Nuclear Power Plants, Cristina Les. The panel concluded that the credibility of regulators depends heavily on their ability to explain how decisions are made, integrate diverse perspectives, and foster active, planned stakeholder engagement through a graded approach commensurate with the significance of each decision.

During this session, participants emphasised that the quality of communication and engagement is decisive. Within this context, stress was laid on the importance of maintaining open and transparent communication, particularly during crisis situations. Finally, there was a consensus that trust and credibility are cumulative processes requiring regulators to embed values such as openness, continuous learning, diversity and consistency within their internal organisational culture. 

The conference conclusions pointed out that international cooperation is an essential element to address current nuclear safety challenges, because isolated regulators can’t be fully effective. The need to reinforce existing collaborative mechanisms (such as ENSREG, WENRA, and HERCA, among others) was highlighted, alongside the importance of moving towards more proactive, agile and coordinated approaches to anticipate risks, adapt regulatory frameworks and improve overall efficiency.

Speakers highlighted the value of the European framework as a core strength that facilitates such coordination without erasing the specific characteristics of each member state. The role of initiatives such as peer reviews, stress tests and capacity-building programmes driven by the European Commission was also underlined.

Discussions throughout the conference reaffirmed that nuclear safety must be understood as a common good that underpins public trust and the long-term sustainability of projects. Participants insisted on the need to move towards more convergent, proportionate and risk-informed regulatory approaches, backed by technical analysis, scientific evidence and transparency. Attendees agreed that balancing agility, innovation and regulatory independence constitutes a shared challenge that demands leadership, cooperation and sustained institutional support.

In addition to the CSN delegation, attendees from Spain included representatives from the Spanish Nuclear Industry Forum and Endesa, as well as several Members of Parliament, alongside experts from the academic community. This diverse attendance underscores the shared interest of institutional, industrial and political stakeholders in the regulatory and safety challenges currently facing the sector.

About ENSREG

ENSREG, a high-level advisory group established in 2007, continues its mission to advise European institutions and promote a common understanding of nuclear safety and waste management—tasks in which the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council actively participates through its various working groups and the chairmanship.

Through its participation in this Conference, the CSN reaffirms its commitment to strengthening international cooperation, exchanging technical information and driving the continuous improvement of nuclear safety. ENSREG remains a key platform for coordinating efforts among European regulators and promoting harmonised practices that reinforce the protection of people and the environment.