Hungarian-Austrian bilateral meeting

A two-day Hungarian-Austrian bilateral expert meeting was held in Austria, from 18-19 December 2023. The Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority provided information on the new supervision concept, which will help the Authority to operate more efficiently while maintaining a high level of nuclear safety, and to put more emphasis on inspection activities. The Hungarian delegation was led by Andrea Beatrix Kádár, President of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority. In addition to the HAEA delegates, the meeting was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Energy, MVM Paks Nuclear Power Plant Ltd, Paks II Ltd, the Public Limited Company for Radioactive Waste Management, the National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy and the National Food Chain Safety Office. On the Austrian side, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries, professional institutions and delegations from several provinces attended the meeting.

Both days of the meeting included technical presentations and discussions between the Hungarian and Austrian experts on issues of mutual interest. As in previous meetings, the parties exchanged information on changes in nuclear legislation, licensing procedures, progress in the fields of radioactive waste management, radiation protection and emergency management, as well as on the most important changes and achievements since last year's meeting. The HAEA informed the participants on the new concept of supervision, highlighting that the amendment will allow the Authority to operate more efficiently while maintaining a high level of nuclear safety, and will give more emphasis to inspection activities. The Hungarian delegation reported on the progress of the construction of the new nuclear power plant units and on the preparation of the further lifetime extension of the operating units.

"The HAEA continues to attach great importance to the traditional good relations with its bilateral partners, to an honest and constructive dialogue", emphasized Andrea Beatrix Kádár, President of the HAEA, at the end of the meeting.