| Chair(s): | Secretary: |
Lucas MARTIRI (lucas.martiri@oecd-nea.org) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Member(s): | All NEA member countries* | ||
| Russia (Suspended*) | |||
| *Russian Federation suspended pursuant to a decision of the OECD Council. | |||
| Full participant(s): |
European Commission Under the NEA Statute | ||
| Observer(s)(International Organisation): |
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) By agreement | ||
| Date of creation: | 01 April 2022 | ||
| End of mandate: | 31 March 2026 |
Mandate (Document reference):
Mandate (Document extract):
Extract of document NEA/CRPPH/INEX(2024)2
Background
The International Nuclear Emergency Exercise (INEX) series has been coordinated by the NEA since 1993. The exercises offer participating countries with the opportunity to test topical issues related to nuclear emergency preparedness and provides a platform for international comparisons on best practice and areas for improvement. An INEX exercise has been organised approximately every 5 years since 1993. The last one, INEX-5 was played between 2015 and 2016.
Following discussions at the 45th meeting of the Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters (WPNEM) in November 2020 and the 79th meeting of the Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) in March 2021, it was agreed to start preparations for the next INEX (INEX-6) and to focus the exercise on the recovery phase of nuclear and radiological emergencies. This was based on evidence captured in a survey of CRPPH members carried out in 2020, which identified the next INEX exercise as the top priority in the area of nuclear emergency matters.
A Preparatory Task Force (PTF) for INEX-6 was established in 2021 to prepare initial proposals for INEX-6 including the potential exercise objectives and scope, areas where the exercise could lead to substantial improvement and methods and approaches that could be applied. The PTF reported on and presented the initial findings at the 46th meeting of the WPNEM where it was agreed that the formal planning, delivery and review of INEX-6 would be carried forward by a dedicated Expert Group on the 6th International Nuclear Emergency Exercise (EGINEX6). This group was established on April 1, 2022. In 2023, the CRPPH and WPNEM held their respective meetings. Recognising the successful achievements of the EGINEX6 in preparing INEX-6 and acknowledging the importance of the feedback analysis of the exercise, including a final workshop, the CRPPH and WPNEM approved, in principle, a two-year extension of the EGINEX6 mandate.
Scope and Objectives
The extended mandate of EGINEX6 will commence after the completion of the sixth International Nuclear Emergency Exercise, INEX-6. The primary focus of the group during this phase will shift towards the evaluation and analysis of the exercise, while also providing valuable insights to the CRPPH and WPNEM for their consideration and action within their future Programmes of Work.
The updated tasks for EGINEX6 during this post-exercise phase include:
Working Methods
The mode of operation of the EGINEX6 is based upon plenary meetings and an ongoing, project-oriented working programme. A Bureau including the Chair and one Vice Chair will lead and organise the work of the EGINEX6. The EGINEX6 will report to WPNEM and to the CRPPH at its plenary meetings.
Additionally, the EGINEX6 will:
i. identify resources and schedules for its activities;
ii. form task teams to work on specific projects and to organise workshops, as appropriate;
iii. annually review the programme of work and the effectiveness of the programme;
iv. incorporate the feedback received from CRPPH and WPNEM to refine the objectives, scope and format of the INEX-6 evaluation phase;
v. utilise the learning and outcomes from previous national and international exercises, such as the INEX-series, to conduct the evaluation of INEX-6 results; and
vi. ensure that the evaluation of the exercise aligns with the Expert Group on Recovery Management (EGRM) publication “Building a Framework for Post-Nuclear Accident Recovery Preparedness – National Level Guidance”, which has been approved by the CRPPH.
Membership
The EGINEX6 membership shall be composed of experts in Emergency Planning, Response and Recovery from NEA member countries.
Interactions
The EGINEX6 will report to the WPNEM and to the CRPPH. The EGINEX6 will engage with other NEA groups and International Organisations, including the Inter-Agency Committee on Radiological and Nuclear Emergencies (IACRNE), to ensure the broad reach and complementarity of the INEX-6 International Workshop with other national and international exercises, such as the IAEA’s ConvEx exercise programme. Non-member countries may be invited to participate in the INEX-6 International Evaluation Workshop and/or post-exercise topical sessions, following NEA Rules and Procedures.
Deliverables
The deliverables for the current mandate of EGINEX6 are:
