Achieving cross-border consistency during a nuclear emergency

The aim of the HERCA working group on emergencies (WGE) is to develop proposals to align decisions of European national crisis management organisations in a consistent manner during a nuclear emergency. The focus is to enhance the cooperation between the European organisations responsible for emergency radiological assessment, such as nuclear safety and radiological safety authorities, and their respective technical support organisations. A common understanding of a given emergency situation between those bodies will form the basis for consistent appropriate recommendations on protective actions and other response actions. The aim is to develop proposals which apply both to an accident within the boundaries of the HERCA member countries and also to a distant accident (such as Fukushima).