Including Civil Society in R&D Projects on Radioactive Waste Management: interactions with Civil Society (ICS) in EURAD
Authors: Dewoghelaere Julien , Heriard-Dubreuil Gilles , Zeleznik​​​​​​​ Nadja , Swahn Johan , Rey​​​​​​​ Honorine , Geisler Alexis 
Published: November 2021

Abstract. One objective of EURAD is to allow innovative ways for close interactions between experts from WMOs (waste management organisations), TSOs (technical support organisations) and REs (research organisations) and civil society (CS) organisations. Based on a model of pluralistic interactions as developed and tested in previous projects (SITEX-II, JOPRAD, Modern2020, etc.), EURAD proposes a framework for
interaction that consists of translating scientific/technical results for
exchanging with a group of CS representatives, gathering CS views on future
EURAD activities, and improving the mutual understanding on research,
development and demonstration (RD&amp;D) performed to support the development of safe solutions for radioactive
waste. This framework of interaction also develops propositions on how to
interact with CS on scientific and technical results, how to deal with
uncertainties (inherently linked to the long timeframes and numerous processes
considered for geological disposal) and on how to interact with CS
stakeholders to promote mutual benefits of the available knowledge, based on
cooperation and sharing. The final objective is to create the methodological
conditions for interactions between the concerned categories of players to
take place on the same footing and fair enough for each category of
participants to be able to co-contribute to the framing of the discussions. To
do so, the EURAD established interaction activities with a group of
representatives of CS organisations (the CS larger group). The composition of
this group has been established at the start of EURAD via an open call by the
EURAD consortium to CS organisations, such as local communities having
interest in radioactive waste management (RWM, local association, local
committee of information, local partnership), and national or European CS
organisations taking part in interactions in the field of RWM at the national
or European level. The interactions between the technical experts and the CS
group are facilitated by CS facilitators (also called CS experts), according
to the “double wing” methodology elaborated in the SITEX II project, working
for linked third parties to mandated players in EURAD, with a standing
engagement on RWM and/or having skills/experience on the involvement of CS in
scientific and technical issues. The CS experts interact with the
institutional experts from the WMOs, TSOs and REs in order to have a better
understanding of the field of study and to prepare interactions with the CS
larger group. This double wing process enables participation of CS
representatives in RD&amp;D projects. This involves the use of specific methods,
such as the PEP Serious Game (developed in the SITEX II project) and ad hoc
methodologies, such as the 3+1 dialogue developed in the framework of the UMAN
project in EURAD working on uncertainties management. In parallel, a process
of evaluation of the ICS (interaction with civil society) activities is implemented with
the objective to establish criteria enabling good conditions for fruitful
interactions with CS in EURAD.