The Conseil d'Etat validates the merger between ASN and IRSN

In an opinion issued on 14 December, the Conseil d'Etat found that the merger of the Autorité de sûreté nucléaire (ASN) and the Institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire (IRSN) "does not come up against any constitutional obstacles or international instruments governing nuclear safety and radiation protection" and that "the resulting requirements in terms of independence, prevention of conflicts of interest and transparency are met". With regard to the organisation of the new Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR), the judge noted the "necessary functional distinction between the appraisal and investigation process conducted by the departments and the process of preparing opinions and decisions deliberated by the college".