History of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency

Precursors

14 December

Secretary-General submits report to the OEEC Council of Ministers on energy supply difficulties.

June

Report by Louis Armand citing potential of nuclear energy and need for European co-operation published.

10 June

Working Party on Nuclear Energy set up.

8-20 August

United Nations conference on the peaceful uses of atomic energy held.

29 February

The OEEC Council of Ministers establishes a Special Committee on Nuclear Energy; four working parties develop proposals.

18 July

The OEEC Council of Ministers responds to the working parties' proposals with a series of actions, including the establishment of a Steering Committee for Nuclear Energy (SCNE).

24 January

Working Group on Harmonisation of Legislation established to examine third party liability for damage caused by the peaceful use of nuclear energy (11 members of OEEC join).

21 March

Working Party on Public Health and Safety established by SCNE.

3 July

Group of Governmental Experts on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy established by SCNE, replacing former Working Group (first meeting held 22 January, 1958).

29 July

International Atomic Energy Agency established.

20 December

The European Nuclear Energy Agency (ENEA) established by Council of Ministers' decision.

The first 50 years

1 February

The ENEA Statute enters into force (all 17 OEEC members join the ENEA): Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey the United Kingdom. Canada and the United States are associate members.

21 February

The Health and Safety Sub-committee (HSC) established.

11 June

Halden Reactor Project established.

29 July

Paris Convention on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy adopted by the OEEC Council.

30 September

An agreement for co-operation signed between the ENEA and the IAEA.

14 December

Convention establishing the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) signed in Paris, France.

OEEC becomes OECD

31 January

Brussels Convention Supplementary to the Paris Convention adopted.

November

Study Group on Long-Term Role of Nuclear Energy (NELT) established.

January

ENEA common services created: Computer Program Library in Ispra, Italy; Neutron Data Compilation Centre (CCDN) in Saclay, France.

23 February

Japan joins ENEA as an associate member.

20 April

Japan becomes a member.

20 April

The Agency changes its name from ENEA to Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA).

1 October

Australia becomes a member.

1 February

The Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI) is established, replacing the CREST and taking on the regulatory functions of HSC.

18 April

The Committee on Radiation Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) is established, replacing the Health and Safety Committee.

1 April

Canada becomes a member.

23 June

The Radioactive Waste Management Committee is established.

1 January

Finland becomes a member.

31 March

The High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor Project (Dragon) Project concluded.

1 October

The United States becomes a member.

26 October

The Committee for Technical and Economic Studies on Nuclear Energy Development and the Fuel Cycle (NDC) is established, replacing the NELT.

January

The Data Bank established in Saclay, France.

January

The Incident Reporting System (IRS) is established by CSNI for the exchange of information on incidents in reactor operations.

October

The Joint NEA/IAEA Uranium Group is established.

March

Report entitled The Radiological Impact of the Chernobyl Accident in OECD Countries is published.

3 October

The Committee on Nuclear Regulatory Activities (CNRA) is established, splitting off regulatory activities from the CSNI.

March

The International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) is established by NEA and IAEA to standardise reporting of nuclear incidents and accidents to the public.

1 October

The Nuclear Science Committee (NSC) is established.

18 November

The Information System on Occupational Exposure (ISOE) is established.

March

Fuel Incident Notification and Analysis System (FINAS) created.

March-May

The first International Nuclear Emergency Exercise (INEX) is conducted.

24 May

South Korea becomes a member.

18 May

Mexico becomes a member.

27 June

The Czech Republic and Hungary become members.

3 May

A High Level Advisory Group on the Future Role of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (HLAG) is established by the Secretary-General.

29 January

The report of the High Level Advisory Group on the Future Role of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (HLAG) is completed.

3 January

First NEA Strategic Plan published.

12 October

The Nuclear Law Committee (NLC) established, replacing the Group of Governmental Experts on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy.

27 August

The International School of Nuclear Law (ISNL) is established jointly with the University of Montpellier I, Montpellier, France.

March

The NEA, IAEA, and World Association of Nuclear Operators launch joint Nuclear Events Web-based System (NEWS) to transmit information on nuclear incidents.

13 June

The Slovak Republic becomes a member.

27 January

The NEA becomes Technical Secretariat for the Generation IV International Forum (GIF).

14-15 June

The first NEA Safety and Regulation Forum on Multilateral Co-operation in Nuclear Safety Research and Regulation held.

22 September

The NEA becomes Technical Secretariat for Stage 2 of the Multinational Design Evaluation Program (MDEP).

21 March

An agreement for co-operation with Russia signed.

1 February

50th Anniversary of the NEA.