Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (Vienna Convention)
Ongoing

The Vienna Convention establishes a nuclear liability and compensation regime similar to that provided for under the Paris Convention. The Vienna Convention is open to any state.

 

Adopted: 21 May 1963

Opened for signature: 21 May 1963

Entered into force: 12 November 1977

Parties: 44 (see table below)

 

More information on the Vienna Convention, including the text and current status, is available here.

The following is a sampling of the articles related to the Vienna Convention that have been published in the Nuclear Law Bulletin and Principles and Practice of International Nuclear Law:

  • The Simultaneous Application of the Paris and Vienna Conventions in the Danish Draft Act, by Judge Spleth (NLB 6, p. 58).
  • International Co-operation in Providing Insurance Cover for Nuclear Damage to Third Parties and for Damage to Nuclear Installations, by J. Deprimoz (NLB 32, p. 33).
  • A Bridge Between two Conventions on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage: the Joint Protocol relating to the Application of the Vienna Convention and the Paris Convention, by O. Von Busekist (NLB 43, p. 10).
  • Towards a New Regime of State Responsibility for Nuclear Activities, by L. De La Fayette (NLB 50, p. 7).
  • Vienna Convention Revision: A Review of the Exercise and Insurance Implications in the Provisions under Discussion, by G. C. Warren (NLB 55, p. 9).
  • The Protocol Amending the 1963 Vienna Convention, by V. Lamm (NLB 61, p. 7).
  • Revised Paris and Vienna Nuclear Liability Conventions – Challenges for Insurers, by M. Tetley (NLB 77, p. 27).
  • International Pooling of Operators' Funds: An Option to Increase the Amount of Financial Security to Cover Nuclear Liability?, by N. Pelzer (NLB 79, p. 37).
  • Perspective on the Pros and Cons of a Pooling-type Approach to Nuclear Third Party Liability, by S. Carroll (NLB 81, p. 75).
  • The Brussels I Regulation and Liability for Nuclear Damage, by J. Handrlica (NLB 86, p. 29).
  • Progress towards a global nuclear liability regime (NLB 93, p. 9).
  • Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments on civil liability for nuclear damage, by U. Magnus (NLB 106, p. 7).
  • Liability and compensation for third party damage resulting from a nuclear incident, by J.A. Schwatrz (Principles and Practice of International Nuclear Law, p. 409).
  • Insurance of nuclear risks, by S. M. S. Reitsma and M. G. Tetley (Principles and Practice of International Nuclear Law, p. 445).

 

Parties to the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage
Argentina* Cuba Mauritius Romania*
Armenia* Czech Republic* Mexico* Russia*
Belarus* Egypt Moldova Rwanda
Benin Estonia Montenegro Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Bolivia Ghana Morocco Saudi Arabia
Bosnia and Herzegovina Hungary* Niger Senegal
Brazil* Jordan Nigeria Serbia
Bulgaria* Kazakhstan North Macedonia Slovak Republic
Cameroon Latvia Peru Trinidad and Tobago
Chile Lebanon Philippines Ukraine*
Croatia Lithuania Poland Uruguay

* Country with at least one nuclear power plant in operation.