With safety being a top priority for countries using nuclear power, the NEA is working to support its membership in improving their ability to respond quickly and efficiently to emergencies. Sharing information is a key part of this effort as emergencies can transcend borders and require international co-operation. As a result, the agency recently set up an expert group to review countries’ use of real-time platforms to transmit data and co-ordinate actions.
The new NEA Expert Group on the Use of Real-Time Platforms (EGRT) held its kick-off meeting on 12 May 2021 with nine representatives from six countries. The participants discussed the group’s objectives, the methods of work, its interactions with other international initiatives in the field, and the main references to be shared.
The participants agreed that the group will focus on surveying and reviewing existing real-time platforms in nuclear emergency management in NEA member countries, with a view to facilitating cross-border and regional information exchange and co-ordination of protective actions. The expert group will assess how they interact with formal information exchange systems, such as those established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or the European Commission (EC).
The expert group will also explore what opportunities exist to share less formal information on these platforms and identify any barriers to using them.
The group’s ongoing work is part of a broader effort by the NEA Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters (WPNEM), which contributes to emergency planning, preparedness and response by sharing knowledge and experience. This working party is part of the NEA Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH).