National Atomic Energy Agency

The topic of the talks is the exchange of regulators' experience in ensuring nuclear safety, as well as ongoing legislative activities related to the licensing of large-scale nuclear reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs).

The Polish delegation is headed for the first time by the newly appointed Vice-President of the National Atomic Energy Agency (PAA) - Paweł Pytlarczyk. The Slovak delegation is headed by the chairperson of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic (ÚJD SR) - Marta Žiaková.

Speeches by representatives of the PAA largely focused on the current status of preparations for the licensing process and regulatory oversight of Poland's first nuclear power plant. Representatives of ÚJD SR shared their experience and insights into the licensing and operation of Slovakia's newest nuclear units - Mochovce 3 and Mochovce 4. Legislative challenges related to the current development of SMR technology were also discussed. During this year's consultations, special attention was paid to the similarities and differences in the models of cooperation with technical support organisations in both countries, as well as the current challenges of building and strengthening human resources in nuclear oversight.

Annual bilateral consultations are held under the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the Slovak Republic on Early Notification of Nuclear Accidents, Exchange of Information and on Cooperation in the Field of Nuclear Safety and Radiological Protection, signed in Bratislava on 18 September 1996. The previous bilateral Polish-Slovak consultations were held on 11-12 April 2024 in Tomášov near Bratislava. As stated in the Agreement, the PAA and ÚJD SR intend to continue organising annual meetings to further exchange information and share experience.