S.L. 585.3 Art. 12Role of the Commission.

The Commission shall:

(a) have overall responsibility for the implementation of these regulations;

(b) develop and maintain national Radioactive Waste Management Programme;

(c) in particular have the following functions with respect to these regulations:

(i) advise the Minister on financial issues relating to the radioactive waste management programme;

(ii) advise the Minister on assignment of responsibilities to various stakeholders;

(d) have the responsibility for the monitoring of the radioactive waste management programme key performance indicators. The key performance indicators shall include the significant milestones to achieve the permanent solution (including central storage and disposal) and time-frames for the achievement of those milestones;

(e) maintain an inventory of all radioactive waste and estimates for future quantities, indicating the location and amount of the radioactive waste in accordance with appropriate classification of the radioactive waste as required;

(f) provide licensing of radioactive waste management activities, including appropriate measures for the post-closure periods of disposal facilities;

(g) perform enforcement actions, including the suspension of activities and the modification, expiration or revocation of a licence together with requirements, if appropriate, for alternative solutions that lead to improved safety;

(h) seek to improve the national framework, taking into account operating experience, insights gained from the decision-making process referred to in regulation 6(2), and the development of relevant technology and research;

(i) review and update as required the national programme, taking into account technical and scientific progress as appropriate as well as recommendations, lessons learned and good practices from peer reviews;

(j) notify to the European Commission of the national programmes and any subsequent significant changes;

(k) report to the European Commission on the implementation of these regulations for the first time by 23 August 2015, and every 3 years thereafter, taking advantage of the review and reporting under the Joint Convention;

(l) respond to any request from the European Commission for any clarification made in connection with the national programme;

(m) at least every 10 years, arrange for self-assessments of their national framework, competent regulatory authority, national programme and its implementation, and invite international peer review of their national framework, competent regulatory authority and, or national programme with the aim of ensuring that high safety standards are achieved in the safe management of radioactive waste. The outcomes of any peer review shall be reported to the European Commission and the other Member States, and may be made available to the public where there is no conflict with security and proprietary information; and

(n) comply with the local reporting requirements and full attendance of meetings under the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management.