Communication and nuclear

The future of nuclear in Europe depends to a great extent on public and political acceptance. Nuclear energy is a controversial issue in public opinion. Most environmentalists oppose the use of nuclear power on safety and waste management grounds. The perception of nuclear is not accurate, since the term nuclear conveys fears. It is essential to communicate the accurate and unbiased information concerning specific projects and nuclear in general in order to enhance the nuclear industry’s credibility, and improve public acceptance The results of the  Eurobarometer survey, attitudes towards radioactive waste, published in June 2008 show that there are now almost as many citizens who are in favour of nuclear energy (44%) as are against it (45%). It also reveals that there are countries where support for nuclear is strong like Hungary (63%), Sweden (62%), the Czech Republic (64%) and Lithuania (64%).

Nuclear Information Committee Europe (NICE)

The Nuclear Information Committee Europe (NICE) wants to trigger discussion, and at the same time facilitate a platform for dialogue and an open house for reflection on the issues. It is a joint initiative of the European Nuclear Society (ENS) and the European Atomic Forum (FORATOM).

  • The Nuclear Information Committee Europe (NICE) increases the effectiveness of nuclear communication activities in Europe.
  • NICE proactively identifies current and future communication issues of common interest for the nuclear sector of the industry.
  • NICE acts as a vehicle for initiation, evaluation and co-ordination of communication issues, so the same issues and statement appear and are used both on national and European level, the latter also in case of the European Institutions.
  • The governing bodies of ENS and FORATOM are the first to be informed of the recommendations and actions by NICE. These bodies have the possibility to influence on the activities of NICE and give their recommendations as well.

As a general rule, the Committee is comprised of one person per country with one substitute. Members are nominated to the Committee by the FORATOM and ENS constituencies, with agreement on the nominee and his/her substitute to be reached at the national level.
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Other observers include one representative from international organisations such as: ENS Young Generation, NucNet, World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), World Nuclear Association (WNA), World Nuclear Transport Institute (WNTI) and Women in Nuclear (WIN).

Latest Developments

A European Nuclear Energy Forum (ENEF) aimed at providing advice to European policy makers, on nuclear energy-related issues was launched in November 2007. It was agreed to establish three working groups that are in charge of analysing three main issues: the opportunities of nuclear, the risks of nuclear and information and transparency. The working group on information and transparency’s mandate is to examine better ways to inform the public, to analyse the most effective approaches to build up trust and to exchange best practices at EU level.

PIME, the conference on Public Information Materials Exchange, is the annual gathering point for professional nuclear communicators all around the world. It is a unique international conference that has grown in value and stature year-on-year. PIME 2010 took place in Budapest, Hungary from 14 to 17 February 2010 and was well attended. 

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