At the council held on 27 December 2017, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine supported the draft Law “On Amending Certain Laws of Ukraine on Safety of Nuclear Energy Use” developed by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine. The day before, the draft Law was supported at the session of the Governmental Committee for economic, financial and legal policy, development of fuel and energy complex, infrastructure, defense and law enforcement activity.

It should be recalled that the draft Law was developed by SNRIU to fulfill Orders of the Prime Minister of Ukraine pursuant to the appeal of G7 Ambassadors in Ukraine resulting from the meeting of the Prime Minister of Ukraine with the Ambassadors.

The issue related to infraction of the Ukrainian nuclear regulator’s independence in the decision-making process was addressed in the appeal and at the meeting with the Ambassadors. The independence became infracted with application of the Laws “On Basic Principles of State Supervision over Economic Activities” and “On Licensing of Economic Activities” to state regulation of nuclear energy safety.

The draft Law suggests to limit the application of these Laws to safety requirements of nuclear energy use. The draft Law “On Amending Certain Laws of Ukraine on Safety of Nuclear Energy Use” is important not only for safety assurance of nuclear energy use, but is also aimed at maintaining the image of Ukraine as the state that is able to meet international obligations assumed through participation in international conventions.

The international conventions (Nuclear Safety Convention and Joint Convention) envisage that the state is obliged to not only create and maintain a legislative and regulatory framework to ensure safety and establish a regulatory authority, but also to empower this body with independent authorities necessary for performance of the entrusted responsibilities.

Besides, the Government of Ukraine adopted a resolution on amending resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 440 of 6 May 2991 and No. 591 of 1 June 2011. The resolution brings the procedure of payment for licensing in the field of nuclear energy use into compliance with the Law of Ukraine “On Amending Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Enhancement of the Corporative Management Level in Joint Stock Companies” No. 1983-VIII dated 23 March 2017.

In addition, SNRIU Chairman Hryhorii Plachkov expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister of Ukraine and members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for supporting the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate in solving the urgent nuclear and radiation safety issues.