Sixty lawyers and regulators from the IAEA's 54 member states are taking part in an intensive two-week training course, the so-called Nuclear Law Institute (NLI), currently under way in Vienna, covering all areas of nuclear law.  

Trainees are receiving general training on nuclear law as well as more specialized topics in the field, such as legal issues related to small and medium reactors, nuclear safety and fusion development;  The relationship between environmental law and nuclear law, and legal issues concerning the financing of nuclear decommissioning and waste management.  

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi highlighted the impact of global challenges, such as global warming, raising interest in nuclear energy and its applications.  He also stressed the importance of appropriate legislation for the application of nuclear technologies, including those aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change.  "You are attending this course at a very critical time in nuclear activities," he told the gathering in a speech on the future prospects of nuclear law.  

The NLI was established 12 years ago, initiated by the IAEA, as a response to the growing need for capacity building in the field of nuclear law.  Since then, the annual event, which was postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a stage to educate and support countries in developing national nuclear legislation, covering all areas of nuclear safety, security, safeguards and civil liability for nuclear damage.  This is its tenth session.  

Perry Lynn Johnson, IAEA's legal counsel and director of the Office of Legal Affairs, stressed that since 2011, some 600 officials have been trained through the institute.  The NLI has made a significant contribution to the establishment and strengthening of appropriate national nuclear legal frameworks in member states."  

The training sessions used a modern practice-based approach, with lectures followed by facilitated group sessions where participants took part in legislative drafting exercises, with a senior legal or regulatory professional acting as a "facilitator" to guide them through in-depth discussions.  About 30 leading experts in all aspects of nuclear law will give lectures during the intensive two-week course.  

"The aim is to expose participants to all relevant aspects of nuclear law, as well as practical experience in drafting, revising and reviewing national nuclear legislation," Johnson said.  

This week marks the last week of the Institute, which includes meetings on nuclear liability and insurance, safeguards and non-proliferation, as well as special sessions on nuclear trade, the legal framework for managing transboundary nuclear risks, the relationship between environmental and nuclear law, decommissioning and small Modular reactors (SMR).  

At the end of the week, the panel of participants will present the draft national nuclear law under hypothetical country profiles, explaining each article of the legislation, followed by a plenary session in which participants will question the panel's experts."  "I'm really looking forward to the rest of the meetings, getting more involved in the FIG panel, the drafting group, and presenting the draft law at the plenary forum on Friday," said Alamgir Khan, director of legal affairs at the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.  This two-week conference of the Institute of Nuclear Law was very informative and comprehensive, and provided a basic knowledge of nuclear law.  This is an important project to promote the preparation and development of national nuclear legislation by member states."