The search for a final repository for high-level radioactive waste is accompanied by public participation. Among other things, the National Monitoring Committee was established for this purpose. Its task is to accompany the site search in a mediating capacity as a diverse social committee – independently, transparently and in close contact with the public. The National Monitoring Committee is an independent 18-member committee composed of twelve recognised public people and six citizens.
The selection and appointment of citizens is prescribed in the rules for the election of citizens to the National Monitoring Committee in Section 8 of the Site Selection Act and is carried out by random selection to ensure fair and diverse representation of the population.
The selection process takes place in several steps: At the end of February 2026, following the nationwide random selection, a citizens’ forum will be held with 180 randomly selected citizens. From among themselves, they will appoint an electoral committee, from which the new members of the National Advisory Committee will then be elected. In addition, two substitutes will be elected for each position. The elected citizens will then be officially appointed as members of the National Advisory Committee by the Federal Minister for the Environment.
nexus has been commissioned to carry out the selection process, which includes random selection, participant support, and the design, moderation, implementation and documentation of the events of the citizens’ forum and the electoral committee.
Duration: 11/2025 – 12/2027
Client: Bundesamt für die Sicherheit in der nuklearen Entsorgung (BASE)
Team: Nicolas Bach (Project manager), Ina Metzner, Daniel Jurischka