On 29-30 July 2025, the Centre for Sustainable Development hosted representatives of the French delegation ‘Association Nationale des Comités et Commissions Locales d’Information’ (ANCCLI, ‘National Association of Local Information Committees and Commissions’) as part of the Energy Transition Lab programme.(ANCCLI, ‘National Association of Local Information Committees and Commissions’), which operates in France at nuclear facilities. The visit included meetings with researchers from the University of Gdańsk working on nuclear energy issues, representatives of the Marshal’s Office and representatives of the Pomeranian Provincial Headquarters of the State Fire Service. The French delegation also took part in a study visit to the Choczewo Commune Office. The commune will be the site of Poland’s first nuclear power plant.
ANCCLI is a French association founded on 25 September 2000 by the chairpersons of local information committees. ANCCLI operates at national and international level, including speaking out on issues such as the transparency of power plant operations, the transport and storage of nuclear materials, the decommissioning of nuclear facilities, environmental monitoring and the ageing of installations. In addition, the association promotes the exchange of experiences between its members, offers logistical support, conducts research, publishes reports and maintains contacts with key national and international bodies.
ANCCLI currently brings together 35 independent Local Information Committees (Commissions Locales d’Information – CLI). The CLIs operate at French nuclear facilities and were established in 1981 on the initiative of the General Councils, which are equivalent to our Provincial Councils. The task of the CLIs is to monitor nuclear power plants and nuclear facilities (storage sites, uranium mining sites and military facilities) in order to inform local communities. CLIs have access to information, particularly from operators and supervisory institutions, funding from local authorities, the French Nuclear Safety Authority and technical training. The committees prepare independent opinions that take into account the information needs of residents. They include local councillors, representatives of environmental organisations, trade unionists and social experts. Similar functions are performed by CLIS, the information and monitoring committee for radioactive waste. ANCCLI was represented by Technical Director Coralie Pineau, Communications and CLI Relations Manager Kévin Basol, and Cattenom CLI President and ANCCLI board member Rachel Zirovnik, who is also mayor of the town of Mondorff.
The meeting in Choczewo was attended by, among others: Wejherowo County Administrator Marcin Kaczmarek, Choczewo Commune Head Jarosław Bach, Commune Secretary Bożena Szczypior, representatives of the Marshal’s Office, including the Pomeranian Province Marshal’s Plenipotentiary for the construction of a nuclear power plant Anna Błażewicz-Stasiak, as well as councillors of the Choczewo Commune. The University of Gdańsk was represented by dr hab. Sylwia Mrozowska, Professor at the University of Gdańsk, Plenipotentiary of the Rector of the University of Gdańsk for cooperation with the nuclear sector, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development, Coordinator of the Energy Transition Lab programme, dr hab. Tomasz Besta, Professor at the University of Gdańsk, Head of the Environmental Psychology and Intergroup Relations Laboratory at the Institute of Psychology, dr hab. Dagmara Strumińska-Parulska, Professor at the University of Gdańsk, Laboratory of Toxicology and Radiation Protection, Dr Julia Ziółkowska, Deputy Director of the Institute of Socio-Economic Geography and Spatial Management, Dr Barbara Kijewska, Prof. UG, political scientist at the Department of Public Policy and Administration, Monika Adamczuk, project manager at the Centre for Sustainable Development, Jolanta Mrozek-Kwiatkowska, BALTICBEAT project coordinator, and Kuba Gudzinowicz, communications specialist at the Centre for Sustainable Development.
The purpose of the visit was to present the good practices developed by ANCCLI over the last four decades and to strengthen cooperation between French partners, the municipality of Choczewo and researchers from the University of Gdańsk.
After the meeting at the Municipal Office, the guests visited the site of the first Polish nuclear power plant in Lubiatowo-Kopalino.
“It is also very likely that the first Polish equivalent of the CLI, i.e. the Local Information Committee, will be established in our municipality or district. This is due to the provisions of the Atomic Law, which allows local communities to set up such committees. Expert support in this area has already been declared by Prof. Sylwia Mrozowska, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development at the University of Gdańsk,” reads the Choczewo24.info website.
On the second day, a working meeting was held at the Centre for Sustainable Development of the University of Gdańsk, during which the ANCCLI delegation and the Energy Transition Lab UG research team exchanged experiences and good practices of French Local Information Committees (CLI). The discussion covered issues related to safety, in particular the role of CLIs in raising safety culture, emergency response procedures, and opportunities for cooperation.
Next, representatives of the ANCCLI and CZRUG delegations met with officers from the Pomeranian Provincial Headquarters of the State Fire Service. The talks focused on safety and crisis management issues in the context of the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Poland, with particular emphasis on communication procedures with residents living in the vicinity of the power plant, as well as in emergency situations.
More information: How did the question and answer session during the meeting with the French delegation go? – Choczewo24.info