Leaving the EU: implications for the civil nuclear sector

Further information

Brexit no deal a highly risky option
For the civil nuclear sector, the BEIS Committee found that 'no deal' would be a highly risky option in the absence of transitional arrangements. Without nuclear cooperation agreements, and an international safeguards regime (currently delivered by Euratom), the UK would not be able to guarantee access to materials essential to the running the country's nuclear power stations which at present provide 21% of our power.

The Committee's report examined the role of nuclear safeguards in trade and research, the establishment of a new UK regime, the importance of nuclear co-operation agreements in trading nuclear materials, and the impact of exit on R&D and skills.

The Committee welcomed the pragmatic approach of Ministers to regulation and argues that the benefits of the Euratom regime should not be put at risk by sticking strictly to the red line on ECJ jurisdiction. The report aimed to provide an objective evaluation of the potential costs and benefits of leaving the EU for the civil nuclear sector to inform public debate, in the absence of any similar assessments being published by the Government. The Committee had published this report in time for a debate on Euratom membership on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill.

Maintaining regulatory standards
The report welcomed the Government's objective of maintaining regulatory standards at current levels, and the introduction of the Nuclear Safeguards Bill to allow the replacement of existing arrangements.

But, the Committee found that it was highly doubtful that the UK could deliver safeguards to Euratom standards by the point of our departure in March 2019. The Committee called for an extended transitional period for civil nuclear, or the continuation of Euratom support, to ensure standards were maintained and the risks to trade and transport of materials were reduced.The United Kingdom: House of Commons: Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee published a report called Leaving the EU: implications for the civil nuclear sector on the 13 December 2017.

The Committee called on the UK Government to retain as close as possible an association with Euratom, the European Atomic Energy Community, including its delivery of existing nuclear safeguards requirements in the UK, to minimise the risk of disruption to nuclear research and the transport and trade of nuclear materials.

The Nuclear Industry Association, the trade association for the civil nuclear industry in the UK, welcomed the recommendations set out by the BEIS Select Committee in its report.

• Primary Source

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

Euratom (United Kingdom: House of Commons: Library: Research Briefing, No.8036 (15.11.17 and periodically updated))) http://www.europeansources.info/record/euratom/

Nuclear Industry Association: Press Release, 13.12.17: NIA welcomes BEIS committee report on Euratom https://www.niauk.org/media-centre/press-releases/nia-welcomes-beis-committee-report-euratom/

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 13.12.17: Avoiding a nuclear meltdown: How we might resolve the Euratom question http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/12/13/avoiding-a-nuclear-meltdown-how-we-might-resolve-the-euratom-question/

UK: Parliament: House of Lords: Committees: EU Committee: News, 18.05.18: Serious concerns about post-Brexit nuclear safeguards raised by EU Committee https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/eu-energy-environment-subcommittee/news-parliament-2017/post-brexit-nuclear-safeguards-letter/

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