EU legislative requirements are being implemented
As proposed by Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks, the German cabinet adopted a draft 14th act amending the Atomic Energy Act today. This draft act is limited to regulations required for implementing the provisions of an EU directive into national law. It does not pre-empt further discussions in the Bundestag commission on the storage of highly radioactive waste.
Council Directive 2011/70/Euratom of 19 July 2011 establishing a Community framework for the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste has to be implemented into national law in the member states. The Atomic Energy Act (Atomgesetz), the legislative ordinances based on this Act and the Repository Site Selection Act (Standortauswahlgesetz) adopted in 2013 already cover a large share of the directive’s provisions.
The draft act adopted by cabinet today essentially lays down in law the state obligation to draw up a national programme for Germany that presents the national strategy for a responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste. Work on this programme is already well underway; it has to be presented to the European Commission by 23 August 2015. Public participation on the draft programme is currently being carried out as part of a strategic environmental assessment.
The draft 14th act amending the Atomic Energy Act is now entering the parliamentary process. The goal is to conclude the legislative process in autumn this year.