As a substantial number of countries plan to start nuclear power programmes, much attention has been devoted to the conditions and requirements to these newcomer countries. In particular, the IAEA has developed international recommendations, the well-known “Milestones for the development of a national infrastructure”. However, not planning to engage a nuclear power programme does not imply that a country has no interest or needs in nuclear matters and should take no action. In particular, being a neighbour of nuclear countries and nuclear facilities generates the need for setting up some of the State functions associated with nuclear power. The purpose of the seminar will be to examine which requirements apply in such situations.
Out of the 19 action areas, ranging from legal framework to technical and human infrastructure, identified in the IAEA Milestones, about half are relevant to a non-nuclear country. The seminar will review these areas, to identify useful and required State functions, as well as the suitable levels of science and expertise to perform them. The discussion will also cover scientific and technical capacity build-up in the nuclear field, with a view to identifying key areas and optimal development paths.