ASNR at the 70th General Conference of IAEA

From 14 to 18 September 2026, ASNR, represented by its Commissioners, its Director General and several other representatives, participated in a series of meetings and discussions in Vienna (Austria), on the sidelines of the 70^th IAEA General Conference. 

The IAEA General Conference provides an annual forum for international nuclear safety authorities to discuss, formally and informally, critical issues regarding nuclear safety and radiation protection. By maintaining an active presence, ASNR successfully promotes its positions, strengthens its relations with partners, and solidifies its status as a leading global authority in the field.

These meetings provided ASNR with an opportunity to convey key messages against the global backdrop of a nuclear renaissance. Far from being an obstacle to the roll-out of nuclear power, safety is an essential prerequisite for the success of such projects. Effectiveness is a shared responsibility between the project developer and the regulator and involves, in particular, establishing a high-quality technical dialogue at an early stage.

The main meetings and events were as follows: 

During the week-long event, the ASNR delegation participated in more than 40 meetings, amongst which 26 bilateral meetings with senior executives from nuclear safety authorities or research organisations from China, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Morocco, The Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America. 

Several international organisations were also met such as the European Commission and its Joint Research Center, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), the 1.            United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). Meetings with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and Deputy Director General Karine Herviou were also organised. 

Pierre-Marie Abadie, President of ASNR, participated in the International Nuclear Regulators Association (INRA) meeting chaired by the Chairman of the Nuclear Safety Commission of the United States. PM Abadie presented the conclusions of the ENSREG Conference, which he chaired last June in Brussels, dedicated to regulating nuclear safety in a rapidly changing and challenging environment (more information: Pierre-Marie Abadie chairs the 8th ENSREG Conference on Nuclear Safety | ASNR).

Pierre-Marie Abadie and Andrzej Głowacki, President of PAA, the Polish safety authority, celebrated ASNR’s certification as a technical support organisation for PAA.

ASNR's Director General and Vice-President of WENRA (Western European Nuclear Regulators' Association) Olivier Gupta participated in several meetings related to WENRA, including a meeting between the boards of WENRA and ETSON (European Technical Safety Organisations Network). 

Commissioner Olivier Dubois took part in several meeting with ETSON, including meetings with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), the board of ETSON, the board of WENRA, and IAEA DDG Karine Herviou. 

Commissioner Géraldine Pina participated in several meetings focused of radiation protection topics with the NEA, the WHO, and UNSCEAR. 

A major side event on nuclear fusion was co-organised by ASNR and BMUKN (the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety). Titled “Regulatory framework for fusion: recent developments of the ITER licensing roadmap, perspectives on specific safety requirements for fusion in the EU”, the event gathered a large audience and saw 10 different speakers - including ASNR Deputy Director General Pierre Bois - addressing the subject of ITER licensing roadmap and discussing the challenges of the regulatory framework for the future of fusion energy in Europe. 

ASNR also took part to several other side events as speakers, including: 

• High level panel on “Strengthening coordination in nuclear emergency preparedness and response” through its WENRA and HERCA (Heads of the European Radiological Protection Competent Authorities⁾ representatives (ASNR Commissioner Jean-Luc Lachaume and ASNR Director General Olivier Gupta), 
• A side event attended by Commissioner Géraldine Pina on “Effective Regulatory Oversight - Looking back to ensure readiness for future challenges”. 
• Two side events attended by Commissioner Jean-Luc Lachaume organised by FORO (Ibero-American Forum of Radiological and Nuclear Regulatory Agencies) on “Strengthening nuclear safety and security through regulatory cooperation and the promotion of safety culture in medical applications– perspectives of FORO and other key organisations”.
• Commissioners Géraldine Pina and Stéphanie Guénot Bresson attended the 13^th meeting of the Nuclear Regulators for Gender Equity Group (NRGE), a technical meeting focused on diversity and inclusion. Commissioner Géraldine Pina presented activities and key updates on advancing women in leadership and decision-making roles, including the latest figures regarding gender parity at ASNR.  
• A side event attended by Deputy Director General Pierre Bois on the “Regulation for fusion facilities - results of the German project” and an I2EN (International Institute of Nuclear Energy) side event on “Scaling up nuclear power through people - the French approach”. 

The ASNR’s International Relations Department also took part in several meetings with its foreign partners to coordinate ongoing and future cooperation activities.

Finally, President Pierre-Marie Abadie had the opportunity to meet six ASNR personnel working for the IAEA, sharing updates on the recent reorganisation of the authority and its strategic priorities.