Active international cooperation is in progress in order to increase the safety of nuclear power, improve radiation protection and strengthen the work for nuclear non-proliferation.
The role of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority
The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority participates in international cooperation that involves the exchange of knowledge and experiences between countries.
International organisations and the EU
The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority is active within several different organisations:
- The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA
- The International Commission on Radiological Protection, ICRP
- The Nuclear Energy Agency, NEA, within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD
- The World Health Organization, WHO
- The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation, UNSCEAR
The authority also works in a number of groups within the EU in order to improve nuclear safety and radiation protection in Europe. In addition, we cooperate with our Nordic neighbouring countries and we have bilateral agreements with several other countries.
International conventions and treaties
Sweden has also signed several international conventions and treaties. The main ones are:
- The Convention on Nuclear Safety
- The Convention on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management
- The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, NPT
- The protection of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea area and the North-East Atlantic, through the HELCOM and OSPAR conventions
Through the above-mentioned international conventions, Sweden has undertaken specific obligations to improve safety at nuclear power plants and radiation protection as well as work towards the non-proliferation of nuclear material and nuclear weapons technology. The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority is responsible for ensuring that Sweden follows the international guidelines and lives up to the agreements.
Development cooperation in the East
The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority also manages development cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe. The aim is to enhance the safety at nuclear power plants in the region and improve radiation protection for both people and the environment. The authority also works towards increasing the knowledge about and strengthening the control of nuclear non-proliferation in the region.