12. Euratom

brexit-fact-base-london — Photo of Sizewell by SN Thomas Photography

Role of Euratom:
- provides secure access to nuclear materials and technology for peaceful purposes:
- separate from EU but governed by EU institutions
- funded by EU budget
UK and nuclear:
- about 15% of domestic energy supply comes from nuclear with planned rise to 25%
- has no reactors capable of producing medical isotopes
- requires certain skills that are only available from other Euratom countries
- imports medical isotopes from EU, especially Netherlands and France
UK left Euratom on 31 January 2020:
- in the transition period, Euratom’s rules and arrangements continued to apply
Expected Brexit impacts:
- does not result in the industry being less safe
- could disrupt business across the nuclear fuel cycle, both in UK and overseas
- a no-deal exit would have created risks for UK:
  - reduced access to supply of nuclear fuel
  - interrupted supply of medical isotopes
  - reduced UK participation in cutting-edge nuclear research
Post-Brexit position:
- UK-EU Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (NCA) alongside TCA
- UK responsible for its safety regime
- imports of EU medical isotopes now subject to customs processes etc
- UK has NCAs with other countries