European Union
The Republic of Bulgaria is a member of the European Union and the European atomic energy community as of January 2007.
The Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom Treaty) also implies a number of specific obligations of the country with regard to safety in the use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation, such as:
◾To incorporate in its legislation the issued on the basis of the EURATOM treaty basic standards for the protection the health of the population from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation, as well as to inform the European commission (EC) on this fact.
◾To notify the EC on the issuing of licenses related to the operation of a new nuclear facilities;
◾Obligations ensuing from the field of the Safeguards for non proliferation of nuclear weapons related to implementation of inspections on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, including obligations ensuing from the enforcement of trilateral instruments for interaction (EURATOM – IAEA – Republic of Bulgaria) in the field of the Safeguards.
The transposition of Directives and the notification of the fulfillment of the obligations arising from the Euratom Treaty, Regulations, Directives and other norms of the European Union regarding the safety in the use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation and the management of radioactive waste and spent fuel is within the competences of the Chairman of the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency.
The Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency prepares the national reports of the Republic of Bulgaria on:
Council Directive 2009/71/Euratom of 25 June 2009 establishing a Community framework for the nuclear safety of nuclear installations (amended with Council Directive 2014/87/Euratom)
Council Directive 2011/70/Euratom of 19 July 2011 establishing a Community framework for the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste
Council Directive 2006/117/Euratom of 20 November 2006 on the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste and spent fuel.
The Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency participates with its representatives in the working bodies of the European Union dealing with safety issues related to the use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation and the management of radioactive waste and spent fuel.
At the level of Chairman and Vice-Chairman BNRA participates in the work of the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG).
The Chairman of the NRA acts as a competent authority and contact point under the European Community Urgent Radiological Information Exchange (ECURIE).