The European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) held an extraordinary meeting by videoconference with the participation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to discuss the safety and security of Ukrainian nuclear facilities in view of the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. On behalf of the Spanish Safety Nuclear Council (CSN), the Commissioner, Javier Dies, and the Technical Director for Nuclear Safety, Juan Carlos Lentijo, attended.

After the introduction to the attendees by the current president of ENSREG, Marta Žiaková, the representative of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) reported on the current situation of nuclear facilities in Ukraine during the Russian military aggression.

Subsequently, the IAEA shared relevant information and data currently available on Nuclear Safety in the area and the members of ENSREG exchanged opinions on the risks existing in Chernobyl regarding Nuclear Safety, its containment or the spent fuel storage. Likewise, other safety and security risks were analysed in relation toother nuclear facilities in the country.

Finally, it was agreed, among the members of ENSREG, the adoption of a declaration where it is recalled that the European Council condemns in the strongest possible terms the unjustified military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Likewise, it expresses its concern about the risks involved by possible damage to the country's nuclear facilities, including those at Chernobyl, and where it recalls the importance for the licensees, the SNRIU and its staff to being able to continue to exercise their responsibilities in terms of nuclear safety at all the country's nuclear sites without obstacles.

ENSREG will continue to closely coordinate all these matters with the IAEA, given the concern about nuclear safety and security and its possible impact throughout the region, it will closely monitor the situation and will call for new meetings if the situation requires it.

The ENSREG institutional declaration is available on its website https://www.ensreg.eu/document/ensreg-statement-ukraine-27-february-2022

ENSREG is a high-level advisory group created in 2007 at the request of the European Commission to raise recommendations to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament on Nuclear Safety and Nuclear Waste Management. The CSN participates in its meetings as well as in ENSREG working groups dedicated to the areas of Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management, International Cooperation and Communication and Transparency of the regulatory body.

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