EU institutions working on uranium

Euratom treaty
The Euratom Treaty, signed in 1957, is the legal basis for the regulatory framework laying down far reaching obligations and competences in the nuclear field at the European level, particularly on the subject of research as well as controls, security and nuclear safety. The Euratom Treaty has various tasks, amongst which

1. to establish uniform safety standards to protect the health of workers and of the general public and ensure that they are applied, and
2. to ensure that all users in the EU receive a regular and equitable supply of ores and nuclear fuels.

European Supply Agency (ESA)
The Euratom Treaty established the Euratom Supply Agency (ESA). The ESA is

• responsible for the management of supply and demand of ores, source materials (for example natural uranium) and special fissile materials (for example enriched uranium and plutonium) in the EU, and
• has the right of option on ores, source materials and special fissile materials produced on the territory of European Member States as well as an exclusive right to conclude supply contracts on ores, source materials and special fissile materials originating from within or outside the Community, and therefore
• controls the supply of uranium and must agree upon any purchase or transaction involving a European actor, including companies and governments.