- Programming R&D: the SRA of the Expertise Function was developed by SITEX-II partners during the first reporting period. Seven “Main topics” were identified. During this second period, SITEX-II has developed first Terms of Reference for its SRA implementation, considering three options for each topic: i) deploy activities through the first wave of European Joint Programing (EJP) in the field of radioactive waste management (RWM), ii) develop these activities through a future SITEX network or iii) consider the results of on-going European projects before deciding to start new activities.
- Developing a joint review Framework: the positions papers on optimization of protection and on waste acceptance criteria were finalized. SITEX-II partners shared national experience and prospective views on site characterization and on operational issues with regard to post-closure safety, so as to develop positions papers on these topics. Besides, partners continued developing guidance on reviewing a safety case, notably through the conception of grids for addressing the successive phases of a geological repository lifecycle.
- Training and tutoring: the development of a training module on the technical review of safety case, started during the first reporting period on the basis of an overview of existing training and tutoring practices used by SITEX-II partners, was completed and a pilot training session was implemented in June 2017 in Kaunas, Lithuania, with 18 trainees from different SITEX related countries. The feedback provided by trainees and lecturers was thoroughly analyzed. This experience forms a valuable basis for further developing the training and tutoring services to be provided by a future SITEX network.
- Interactions with CS: the three thematic tasks, namely R&D, safety culture/review and intergenerational governance, were achieved, notably on the basis of works carried out by institutional experts and representatives of CS within SITEX-II, of interviews of various representatives of non-institutional (NGOs) and institutional actors (regulators, TSOs, researchers) as well as through three workshops with other CS organisations organized during the first reporting period. Regarding R&D, a concept of CS knowledge interaction in international research projects on RWM was developed that could be relevant in the EJP, as well as the early stages of a citizen and social science platform in RWM. Regarding intergenerational governance of geological disposal, recommendations emerge from a literature review and results of the third CS Workshop.
Finally, results of SITEX-II work were presented at national levels as well as at several events organized by international institutions and platforms (IAEA, NEA/OECD, ETSON, Eurosafe...) and an « International meeting on SITEX-II outcomes” was organized by SITEX-II on 31st October 2017 in France. At last, the Action Plan preparation for a future SITEX network was achieved.