At the second part of the meeting of the Council of the European Union held in Brussels between 24 and 25 March, Heads of State and Government debated over the lessons to be drawn from the events that occurred in Japan, notably as regards nuclear safety. In this regard, the Council has recalled that the energy mix is the competence of Member States, and has agreed to make safety revisions on all nuclear plants.

In their meeting, the European Council has underlined the need to fully draw the lessons from the events in Japan, and to provide all necessary information to the public. In addition to expressing all support and solidarity to the people of Japan, the Council also made full balance of the situation which followed the hearth-queke and tsunami suffered in Japan.

After answering to an initial request from the Japanese government, under which the European Union is mobilising relief supplies for the affected population, the Council renewed EU's commitment to stands ready to provide further support if requested. More generally, the EU is interested in developing its cooperation with Japan on disaster relief. In the economic side, the European Union has commended the swift and decisive action taken by the Japanese authorities in response to disorders on financial markets. It welcomes the action taken by the G7 on the yen.

European nuclear plants revision process in full transparency

From an internal point of view, the European Union is ready to make the appropriate analysis and draw the necessary lessons from the disaster which happened in Fukushima further to the hearth-quake and tsunami which devastated Japan. The Council has agreed that the safety of all EU nuclear plants should be reviewed, on the basis of a comprehensive and transparent risk and safety assessment.

In this sense, the European Nuclear Safety Regulatory Group (ENSREG) and the Commission has been invited to develop as soon as possible the scope and modalities of these tests in a coordinated framework in the light of lessons learned from the accident in Japan and with the full involvement of Member States, making full use of available expertise. The assessments will be conducted by independent national authorities and through peer review, and their outcome and any necessary subsequent measures that will be taken will be shared with the Commission and within the ENSREG and be made public.

As highlighted by EU ministers in charge for energy in their meeting on 22 March, the Council has underlined that the priority of ensuring the safety of nuclear plants obviously cannot stop at EU borders. Therefore, the EU will request that similar "stress tests" be carried out in the neighbouring countries and worldwide, regarding both existing and planned plants. For that purpose, the EU will make full use of relevant international organisations.

Furthermore, the Commission will review the existing legal and regulatory framework for the safety of nuclear installations and will propose by the end of 2011 any improvements that may be necessary.