SEC NRS delegation headed by A. Khamaza, Director of SEC NRS, took part in the ETSON General Assembly Meeting held on July 9–10, 2014 in Cadarache (France)

14.07.2014 The General Assembly Meeting of the European Technical Support Organizations Network (ETSON) was held on July 9–10, 2014 in Cadarache (France). The SEC NRS delegation headed by A. Khamaza, Director of SEC NRS, took part in the Meeting.

In frames of the Meeting there were held discussions concerning organizational issues related to ETSON activity, as well as the progress of works planned within the previous General Assembly Meeting in November 2013.

ETSON member countries provided the brief overview of the major events and changes in their activity. The Director of SEC NRS made a speech on the IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service Mission and Follow-Up Mission held in the Russian Federation in the years 2009 and 2013, respectively. SEC NRS took an active part in preparation to and conduct of the aforesaid missions as the technical and scientific support organization for Rostechnadzor.

The outcomes of activity of ETSON expert groups were presented in the course of the Meeting, and further fields of scientific and research activity were identified. The results of ETSON cooperation with various international organizations and associations (European Commission, IAEA, WENRA, ENEF, FORO) were also discussed.

Moreover, special consideration was given to ETSON preparation to the International Conference on Challenges Faced by Technical and Scientific Support Organizations to be held in Beijing within the dates October 27–31, 2014. ETSON has undertaken the role of one of the Conference arrangers, so ETSON members are taking an active part in preparation for the event.

In frames of the General Assembly Meeting the host country organized a technical visit to the Cadarache Research Center (CEA-Cadarache) considered to be the one of the leading scientific and research centers in the field of energy technologies and nuclear power in Europe.

For reference only: the European Technical Organizations Network (ETSON) was established in 2006 for the purpose of enhancing of scientific and technical cooperation among the European technical support organizations in the field of nuclear safety. Nowadays, ETSON includes a number of technical support organizations, such as IRSN (France), GRS (Germany), Bel V (Belgium), UJV (Czech Republic), VTT (Finland), LEI (Lithuania), VUJE (Slovakia), JSI (Slovenia), PSI (Switzerland), INRNE BAS (Bulgaria), NRA (Japan), SEC NRS (Russia), SSTC NRS (Ukraine). SEC NRS entered into ETSON membership in 2012.