About Us

On October 28^th, 2004 an informal group of like-minded European regulators in nuclear security, and associated, government nominated, public advisory bodies, decided to create the European Nuclear Security Regulators› Association.

The regulators  recognized the need for increased co-operation and exchange of information between nuclear security regulators. Reason for this was the increased attention to security matters in nuclear energy and physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities. It was recognized however that the responsibility for the establishment, implementation and maintenance of a Physical Protection regime within a State rests entirely with that State and that confidentiality is an important issue.

The Association has the following objectives :

1. to form a suitable forum for exchanges on nuclear security regulatory matters, capable of addressing confidential issues,
2. to establish a mutual professional capability to examine how nuclear material and nuclear facilities security issues are developed and how related measures are implemented,
3. to develop a comprehensive understanding of the Fundamental Principles of Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities,
4. to achieve or promote as far as practicable a common approach of nuclear security practices within Europe, recognising the continuing need for variation between States to reflect different national circumstances.

Membership is by invitation by the current membership only and restricted to governmental authorities and associated, government nominated, public bodies with regulatory or advisory responsibilities for civil nuclear security arrangements in European States with domestic civil nuclear programmes and industries. Views expressed by individual representatives of ENSRA member organisations do not necessarily reflect those or the policy of their Government.

The Association may, subject to agreement by all its members,

• interact with the IAEA, States not represented in ENSRA and, when appropriate, European Union Institutions about specific issues or findings coming out of ENSRA meetings on a case by case basis,
• consider requests from these Institutions and States for advice on physical protection and related regulatory matters,
• meet with other Competent Authorities to discuss specific issues when necessary.

Subject to agreement by all its members, each member may be accompanied, when necessary, by other national Competent Authorities to discuss specific issues.

To prevent disclosure of sensitive information the ENSRA has the following rule:

Each European regulator in nuclear security may make available to his/her national competent authorities the information exchanged in confidence within the association but it is a condition of membership that this information will not be publicly disclosed or made available to non-government bodies, or to government bodies from States not represented in ENSRA, without the prior agreement of the State organization originally providing the information and will be protected by  members in accordance with national rules.

Currently the ENSRA consists of 16 European member countries. You can find the full list here.