Online meeting of the OECD NEA Steering Committee for Nuclear Energy

OECD NEA

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.

he NEA Director-General and senior staff reported about the latest developments within the organisation and there was a lively debate about the programme of work and budgets for the NEA and its Data Bank for 2022. The proposed 0,7% adjustment for 2022 would have mainly financed staff costs and IT investments. Due to the lack of consensus among member states, in 2022 the budget will be frozen and remain at the present level.

Further progress and programme reports were noted without larger debate. The next meeting of the NEA Steering Committee is planned to take place on 21-22 April 2022.