Cattenom and nuclear safety: Luxembourg and France discuss co-operation
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The 23rd meeting of the Joint Commission on Nuclear Safety between the two countries was held in Montrouge, amid persistent concerns about nuclear safety on the border between France and Luxembourg. The meeting, held at the headquarters of the French regulator ASNR (Autorité de sûreté nucléaire et de radioprotection), brought together a wide range of officials, including representatives of the Luxembourg Ministries of Foreign and European Affairs, Health, Interior and Economy, as well as the French Ministry of Energy Transition and power plant operators, including EDF.
Special attention was paid to the Cattenom NPP, located just 15 kilometres from the Luxembourg border. The parties discussed the fourth periodic reactor review, a procedure that evaluates technical parameters, operational safety and compliance with new standards. The Luxembourg representatives reiterated the importance of transparency regarding the safety data of the facility, especially given the seismic vulnerability of the region.
A key topic was the procedures for transboundary notification in the event of a radiation accident. Both sides discussed updating the current information exchange protocol, as well as preparations for possible evacuation scenarios and coordination of civil protection services. In this context, the issue of harmonising methods for rapid incident response, both technical and informational, was raised.
The meeting also focused on medical radio protection, in particular the use of ionising radiation in diagnosis and treatment, and the spread of radon, a natural radioactive gas recognised as a health risk factor.
The Franco-Luxembourg Commission has been active since the late 1980s, against the backdrop of the construction of the Katten nuclear power plant. Since then, meetings have taken place annually, each time addressing both current technical aspects and broader cross-border safety issues. The next meeting of the commission is scheduled for June 2026 - already on Luxembourg territory.
