On 17 September 2024, the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the United Arab Emirates on the sidelines of the 68th General Assembly of the International Atomic Energy Agency with the aim of strengthening professional relations.
Under the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Hungary coordinated the setting up of the EU stand at the exhibition linked to the 68th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), where Hungary, Greece, Lithuania and Sweden were represented alongside the European Commission. On behalf of Hungary, the HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research (HUN-REN CER) coordinated the activities of the participating countries. In addition to the information material on nuclear safety and security, the experts presented a special radioactivity measurement simulator developed by HUN-REN CER. In addition, the nuclear forensic analysis, in which Hungary is a frontrunner (HUN-REN CER has been the IAEA Collaborating Centre in this field since 2016), was presented as a prominent theme of the exhibition. The official opening of the stand was attended by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.
Geoffrey Bruce Shaw, Director-General of the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office visited Hungary on 13 September 2024 at the invitation of the President of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA).
At the second meeting of the EU Working Party on Atomic Questions, held during the Hungarian EU Presidency, Member States reviewed the situation of nuclear safety and security of nuclear installations in Ukraine. The Joint Research Centre, the scientific and knowledge service of the European Commission, provided information on its activities on sustainable solutions for radioactive waste and spent fuel management and presented the current issues and main challenges in the development of skilled nuclear workforce. In doing so, he pointed out that the nuclear sector needs to attract between 70,000 and 90,000 new employees over the next 10 years, and that support for nuclear education and training remains essential to maintain and develop the highest level of nuclear safety and a competitive European industry.
The 68th annual General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency will be held in Vienna from 16 to 20 September 2024. In conjunction with the IAEA's main decision-making body, the General Conference, a scientific forum on the role of nuclear energy in agriculture and food technology, the Atoms4Food initiative, will be held from 17 to 18 September. The aim of Atoms4Food is to help the countries concerned to increase food security and combat growing hunger. During the week-long event, countries will also have the opportunity to hold bilateral and multilateral meetings, further strengthening international cooperation in the nuclear field.