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Emergency preparedness and response

In the event of radiological emergency that could result from a nuclear accident, fast and accurate sharing of information can make a huge difference in ensuring people's safety. 

Under the Council Decision 87/600/EURATOM, the European Commission and the EU countries notify and exchange information in case of radiological emergencies. To fulfil its role during radiological emergencies, the Commission put in place 2 systems, referred to as ECURIE and EURDEP.

The European Community Urgent Radiological Information Exchange

ECURIE was set up shortly after the Chernobyl accident in 1986 to facilitate early notification and information exchange in the event of a radiological emergency. 

In a radiological emergency, the concerned country must promptly notify the Commission if they decide to take measures to protect their population and the Commission must make this information available to all the other ECURIE participating countries.

All EU countries, as well as Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Switzerland, take part in ECURIE. 

The European Radiological Data Exchange Platform

EURDEP was established in 1995 and makes radiological monitoring data from the participating countries available to each other, in almost real time. 

The data should be provided at least once a day in normal conditions and delivered at least once every hour during an emergency. EURDEP also makes radiation monitoring data available to the public via EURDEP's site.

All EU countries, and a growing number of the third countries including Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Hong Kong, Iceland, North Macedonia, Norway, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Ukraine, participate in EURDEP.