Belgium, Germany sign deal on safety of nuclear power plants

Belgium and German on Monday signed an agreement on exchanging information on the safety of nuclear power plants.

The deal, signed by Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon and German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks here, aims to ease safety concerns over nuclear reactors located in the border areas between the two countries.

Under the agreement, the two neighboring countries will set up a joint committee to carry out regular information exchange of the safety of nuclear power plants.

In addition, German experts will also be able to attend the inspection of Belgian power plants and vice versa.

"We want to be very transparent about our security policy and about the elements which make up the basis for our decisions," said Jambon at a press briefing after the signing ceremony, stressing that "Belgian nuclear power plants are safe."

The agreement serves as a legal basis for "a critical discussion on the key questions about nuclear safety," according to the minister.

In April, Germany requested Belgium to temporarily shut down two nuclear reactors near its borders after a report by the German Reactor Safety Commission said their safety was not guaranteed. Endit