Online meeting of the OECD NEA Steering Committee

OECD NEA

The 141st meeting of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency Steering Committee was held virtually on 15-16 April 2021. One of the main agenda items was the discussion about the program of work and budgets for the NEA and its Data Bank for 2021-2022. Due to the lack of consensus among member states, the proposed adjustment for 2022 will be further discussed at the next meeting.

Bulgaria became the 34th member of the NEA on 1 January 2021, so its representatives could have joined the present Steering Committee meeting for the first time as full members.

NEA Director-General and senior staff reported about latest developments within the organisation, such as the creation of the Office of Resource Management responsible for budget, HR, IT and administrative matters, about meeting with Chinese and Brazilian authorities and the intention of Chile and Estonia to have closer relationship with NEA as well as about several NEA flagship publications.

There was a lively debate about the programme of work and budgets for the NEA and its Data Bank for 2021-2022. At its previous meeting the Steering Committee approved a zero nominal growth budget for 2021 and invited members to have further discussion about 0,7% adjustment for 2022. Unfortunately, members couldn’t reach a consensus in the subject.

Further progress and programme reports were noted without larger debate. The next meeting of the NEA Steering Committee is planned to take place virtually in October.