The NEA Expert Group on Public Communication (EGPC) held its 7th Plenary meeting on 27–28 April to exchange views on current priorities and strengthen collaboration on best practices for effective public communication on nuclear matters. The meeting provided an opportunity for members to share national experiences, reflect on recent outputs from ongoing task groups and explore lessons from other sectors facing similar communication challenges.
Key highlights included discussion on the recently published self-assessment toolkit for Characteristics of a Trusted Nuclear Regulator. This practical resource is intended to support regulators in assessing and strengthening their credibility, transparency and communication practices. Participants explored ways to promote the toolkit, including sharing it at workshops and other international events.
Participants also discussed ongoing progress to produce a report from a table-top exercise on crisis communication that took place in October 2025. Communications teams from seven different regulatory organisations took part in the exercise using the International Atomic Energy Agency’s social media simulator, to test their crisis communication response to a hypothetical scenario. The task group will continue its work to produce a report on the key outcomes of this exercise and overall lessons learnt.
Another focus of the meeting was continuing an information exchange with other sectors, particularly on approaches to risk and crisis communication. A dedicated panel session examined best practices for risk communication from the weather and climate sector, which regularly communicates uncertainty, long-term risks and evolving scientific information to the public. This panel session was the final discussion of a three-part series, with the task group now working towards drafting a final “What We Heard” Report from all three sessions.
The meeting also addressed a transition in leadership. The Chair, Ossi Lang from Finland, stepped down, concluding a period marked by significant progress, including the self-assessment toolkit publication. The group appointted Miriam Vachova, from the Slovak Republic, as the new Chair going forward.
Looking ahead, the next meeting of the EGPC will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, in early October, where members will continue advancing their work and sharing best practices for public communication within national contexts.