European Observatory for Long-Term Governance on Radioactive Waste Management

Countries in the European Union show different levels of social and political acceptance regarding nuclear power. Whilst nuclear energy plays an important role in strengthening security of energy supply, it also imposes potential threats to human health, environmental and political security, additional to the radioactive waste management problem. OBRA aims at making a major contribution to the field by promoting societal awareness and understanding of Radioactive Waste Management issues in the EU. The problem in the governance of the waste programmes European wide need a new approach, especially due to the lack of link between the societal and technical disciplines in the field. OBRA will contribute to better governance of radioactive waste by providing mechanism for all stakeholders to have access to the knowledge that has been generated by successive EU research programmes. In order for all stakeholders to be able to benefit from the EU knowledge base in the form of most suitable to their needs, OBRA will identify and promote the most appropriate forms of interaction with experts. Such a close interaction among the different stakeholders is crucial to build up trust and create a critical mass in Europe, enhancing the effective use of existing R&D and training capacities. OBRA runs for 23 months and foreseeable start is October 2006. The main coordinating organisation of this project is Enviros Spain S.L., Spain.