Nuclear Energy Agency Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

The following texts are published in an unembellished form to pamit faster distribution at a lower cost. The views expressed are those of the authors. and do not necessarily reflect those of the Organisation or of its Member countries. Pursuant to Article 1 of the Convention signed in Paris on 14th December 1960, and which came into force on 30th September 1961, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) shall promote policies designed:-to achieve the highest sustainable economic growth and employment and a rising standard of living in Member countries, while maintaining financial stability, and thus to contribute to the development of the world economy;-to contribute to sound economic expansion in Member as well as non-member countries in the process of economic development; and-to contribute to the expansion of world trade on a multilateral, non-discriminatory basis in accordance with international obligations. The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) was established on 1st February 1958 under the name of the OEEC European Nuclear Energy Agency. It received its present designation on 20th April 1972, when Japan became its first non-European full Member. NEA membership today consists of all European Member countries of OECD as well as Australia, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico and the United States. The Commission of the European Communities takes part in the work of the Agency. The primary objective of NEA is to promote cooperation among the governments of its participating countries in furthering the development of nuclear power as a safe, environmentally acceptable and economic energy source. This is achieved by:-encouraging harmonization of national regulatory policies and practices, with particular reference to the safety of nuclear installations, protection of man against ionising radiation and preservation of the environment, radioactive waste management, and nuclear third party liability and insurance;-assessing the contribution of nuclear power to the overall energy supply by keeping under review the technical and economic aspects of nuclear power growth and forecasting demand and supply for the different phases of the nuclear fuel cycle;-developing exchanges of scientific and technical information particularly through participation in common services;-setting up international research and development programmes and joint undertakings. In these and related tasks, NEA works in close coRaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, with which it has concluded a Cooperation Agreement, as well as with other international organisations in the nuclear field. FOREWORD The OECD/NEA Nuclear Science Committee (NSC) has long recognised the need …