The plenary meeting of the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) took place on 24 November, 2021 in a hybrid format (personal attendance and online). Ms Andrea Beatrix Kádár, Director General of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority introduced herself on the occasion of her first participation in the meeting. In her speech, Ms Kádár provided details of the modification of the Act on Atomic Energy. The Director General emphasized that the HAEA will be more independent financially and organizationally, while it continues to keep its regulatory independence. She underlined: the competencies of HAEA related to the international relations remain the same. HAEA will continue to pay special attention to them, with emphasis on the cooperation with EU member states and in the framework of ENSREG. In this regard, she re-confirmed the dedication of HAEA experts participating in the three ENSREG working groups, and said that they will continue to contribute to their work.
Due to the pandemic, the 27th Austrian-Hungarian bilateral meeting was organized by the Hungarian side on 16 November 2021 online like the previous one. The parties sent each other their presentations prior to the meeting. At the bilateral event, only questions, remarks and answers related to these were made.
On 9th November, the Hungarian Parliament adopted the amendment of the Act on Atomic Energy, which will enter into force in several stages after its promulgation. The Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority will be more independent financially and organizationally, while it keeps its regulatory independence, which will provide the framework for efficient work even with the expanding tasks.
The Steering Committee of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency held its meeting virtually on 21-22 October 2021. On the occasion of her first participation, Ms Andrea Beatrix Kádár, the new Director General of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority held an introductory speech. In her introduction, she presented the main points of the modification of the Act on Atomic Energy that means keeping the regulatory independence of HAEA while being more independent financially and organizationally. One of the main agenda items was the discussion about the program of work and budgets for the NEA and its Data Bank for 2022.
Between 18th and 22nd October 2021 the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority, together with the International Atomic Energy Agency, organised a National Training on Conducting Computer Security Assessments at Nuclear Facilities in Budapest. The training was held as a part of the IAEA’s support for Hungary within the Integrated Nuclear Security Support Plan programme, which Hungary joined in 2018.