A delegation from the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) led by its commissioner, Pilar Lucio, and of which the Director of Radiological Protection, Mª Fernanda Sánchez Ojanguren and the Deputy Director of Environmental Radiological Protection, Mª Jesús Muñoz,participated from 15^th to 16^th of May in the twenty-third meeting of the steering committee of HERCA (Heads of the European Radiological Protection Competent Authorities) that was held in Liverpool (United Kingdom).

On this occasion, the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) hosted the conference chaired by Karla Petrovà, Vice Chairwoman of Radiological Protection of the regulatory body of the Czech Republic.

Commissioner Pilar Lucio, who was attending this meeting for the first time as a member of HERCA, explained to the attendees the intention of the renewed CSN Board to fully support the work of this European association.

During this meeting, a review of the activities carried out by the different HERCA working groups was made. In addition, new documents prepared by the working group on emergencies were approved, such as, for example, the Principles for the extension of the application of protective actions and Additional urgent protection actions during the initial phases of a nuclear accident as well as new action plans within the group on medical applications.

On the other hand, the new appointments of the chairmen of the working groups on sources and practices in research and industry, Santtu Hellstén of Finland and on emergencies, Gareth Thomas of the United Kingdom, were approved.

It is worth mentioning the acknowledgment to the CSN from the working group on industrial sources and practices, for facilitating the participation of the Chief of Emergency Operations Coordination Area, Juan Pedro García Cadierno, in his last meeting to make a presentation on radiological control of  metallic materials.

Finally, a representative of the European Commission presented the updated state of the transposition of the Euratom Directives on Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety.

HERCA is composed of representatives of 56 European authorities competent in Radiological Protection, belonging to 32 European countries. Since its creation in 2007, HERCA contributes to the harmonization of regulatory practices, the identification of common problems and the proposal of practical solutions to such problems, in the field of Radiological Protection. Spain is represented in this association through the CSN from the moment of its creation.