The Viena Convention on Nuclear Liability Revisited: Challenges for Updating the Czech and Slovak Legal Framework
Abstract
Both the Czech and Slovak Republic announced their plans to play an important role in the process of “nuclear renaissance” in Central Europe. However, this process cannot be limited to a mere multiplication of nuclear facilities, but must be accompanied by strengthening of the legal and regulatory framework.
Taking the potential magnitude of a nuclear incident into regard, strengthening of the existing legal framework for the nuclear third party liability must play an eminent role in this legislation. This paper deals with the current liability frameworks in both countries, analysing the implementation of theirs commitments arising from the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage of 1963.
Further, it points out major challenges for the future development in this field, in particular taking the provisions of the Protocol to Amend the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage of 1997 into regard.