Communique issued by the presidency of the Republic following the establishment of the Nuclear Safety Authority (Autorite de Surete Nucleaire)
Paris, 19 January 2007
On 19 January 2007, President Chirac established the Nuclear Safety Authority as an independent administrative authority created by the Act of 13 June 2006 on Transparency and Security in the Nuclear Field. (1)
In line with the President's wishes, the authority has been set up to ensure a control over nuclear issues which is independent and recognized as such by French men and women.
During the meeting, the Head of State stressed the importance of the stringent and transparent control of the nuclear sector, which has a central place not only in energy policy, alongside renewables and energy savings, but also in medicine, for diagnosis and treatment of disease.
He urged the members of the Nuclear Safety Authority, keeping very much in mind the imperative of protecting people and the environment, to deal with the important issues of the months and years to come, including: a detailed check of the power stations on their 30th birthday, the building of the EPR and ITER and the concept of underground storage of nuclear waste.
He asked them when exercising their responsibilities to be very open with our fellow citizens and the environmental protection organizations.
(1) France has, of course, had a nuclear safety authority for many years, but the Act created this independent authority, composed of a college of five members chosen, for a six-year term, for their competence in the field of nuclear safety and radiological protection: three by the French President and one each by the Presidents of the National Assembly and Senate.
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