The International Regime for Nuclear Safety After Fukushima

The Chernobyl catastrophe in 1986 lead to a new foundation of the international regime for nuclear safety: the 1994 Convention on Nuclear Safety introduced for the first time obligations on adhering states to adopt certain principles to achieve a high level of safety. The Convention, however, does not contain detailed standards, nor does it install a "hard" mechanism for control and enforcement. While the system has undoubtedly lead to improvements in nuclear safety worldwide, it was not able to detect and remedy the deficiencies in the Japanese system. Ideas voiced immediately after the Fukushima accident to take a further decisive step towards a more stringent international system seemed not to be met with enthusiasm. The general tendency is to use the existing instruments and mechanisms in a more effective manner. However, very recently (in April 2014) the member states of the Convention on Nuclear Safety decided to stage a diplomatic conference with the aim to amend the Convention and to insert safety objectives. Time will eventually show whether this is a first, but decisive step towards the idea of an international system of mandatory and enforceable nuclear safety standards.