The politics of radioactive waste management: public involvement and policy-making in the European Union

Environmental concerns have pushed the decarbonisation of the European economy high on the EU political agenda.

This has renewed old debates about the role of nuclear energy in the European economy and society that gravitate around the issues of nuclear safety and radioactive waste management (RWM).

RWM carries many elements of technical complexity, scientific uncertainty and social value, which makes policy decisions highly controversial.

Public participation is usually believed to improve these decisions, ease their implementation by solving substantial conflicts, and enhance trust and social acceptance.

Drawing upon sources including Euratom and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, the author offers a detailed overview of public involvement in RWM in the EU, analysing the implementation of national policies through official programmes and the views of stakeholders from all Member States.