Expanding the Global Nuclear Liability Regime: CSC Workshops Strengthen Regional Cooperation

The first workshop took place from 21 to 24 October 2025 in Vilnius, Lithuania.  It was attended by 14 representatives of government agencies and regulatory bodies from nine countries in the wider East European region: Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Türkiye.

In his opening remarks, Mr Airidas Dauk?as, Vice-Minister of Energy of Lithuania said: “I firmly believe that the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage offers a solid foundation for the global nuclear liability regime. As an instrument open to all States, it can serve as a bridge between the Paris, Vienna, and CSC Annex liability regimes, fostering greater international cooperation and coherence.” 

Panel discussions featured international experts and participants shared their national perspectives on nuclear liability and discussed the CSC’s legal and practical implications. Poland’s current process of joining the CSC was of particular interest to the participants. 

Ms Beata Spara?yńska from the Ministry of Industry of Poland said: “Poland is taking steps to accede to the CSC by early 2027. Upon Poland's request the European Commission is drafting an EU Council decision authorising Poland’s accession to the CSC in view of the EU exclusive competence in the area of jurisdiction and enforcement of judgements. This will be the first time the EU will look into this matter since Romania was already a Contracting Party to the CSC before it joined the EU.”

A second workshop was held on 2-3 December 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, in cooperation with the Government of Thailand through the Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP). Twelve participants from six countries embarking on a nuclear power programme attended the workshop: namely Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. 

"Holding such workshops is vital to enhance our collective understanding of the CSC’s crucial role in establishing a coherent global nuclear liability regime. This event provides a platform to strengthen cooperation in the region and ensuring every State is well informed and recognizes the strategic importance of such regime.” said Rozman Mohd Tahar from  Malaysia’s Department of Atomic Energy .

“This workshop has been extremely beneficial in deepening our understanding of how the CSC operates. Gaining clarity on its provisions and how to implement them in national legislation is crucial for any State considering embarking on a nuclear power programme,” said Vu Ha from the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute.

The Thailand workshop was preceded and followed by bilateral meetings between the IAEA and Thailand held on 1 and 4 December 2025 in Bangkok. As Thailand drafts its national nuclear liability legislation, a bilateral awareness raising meeting was held with 102 representatives from the OAP and various stakeholders including the Office of the Energy Regulatory Commission, the Office of Insurance Commission and the Office of the Council of the State. 

 A bilateral legislative drafting meeting followed with the drafting team comprised of 15 representatives of AOP to discuss the comments provided on the draft Act on Civil Liability for Nuclear and Radiation Damage.