Comparative Assessment of Radiation Safety and Risk Management for Sustainable Regional Development

Abstract

Background. Radiation safety is an essential element of the modern system of public health and environmental protection and encompasses a wide range of measures to prevent, detect, and respond to the unauthorised possession, use, transportation, storage, or dissemination of radioactive materials, as well as the protection of radiation sources and their associated infrastructure. Increasing cross-border mobility, the development of current nuclear technologies, and growing challenges to national security mean that radiation safety is gaining importance for sustainable development in countries. Purpose. The study aims to assess the state of radiation safety in the countries of Southeastern Europe, covering the Balkan Peninsula, and to analyse its role in sustainable development and regional stability. Findings. The results show that the level of radiation safety in the region is generally consistent with the main international standards. However, there are meaningful discrepancies among governments in terms of institutional capacity, technical infrastructure, and emergency preparedness. Countries with developed nuclear energy programmess have more robust monitoring and regulatory control systems. In contrast, some countries without nuclear facilities face limitations in terms of resources, technical equipment, and human capital. The highest institutional capacity over the 2015–2025 period is in Slovenia (0.91) and Bulgaria (0.88), while the lowest is in Bosnia and Herzegovina (0.62) and Albania (0.61). Romania has the most monitoring stations in 2025 (120), while Albania has the fewest (12). The analysis shows that radiation safety in South-East Europe is directly linked to institutional sustainability, technological development and the implementation of energy and climate goals. Implications. A particularly important conclusion is the need to strengthen regional cooperation. The transboundary nature of potential radiation incidents requires a coordinated approach based on data exchange, joint exercises, common response procedures, and sharing of good practices. Therefore, the sustainable development of Southeastern Europe is directly linked to the countries' ability to maintain reliable radiation safety systems, invest in modern technologies and human resources, and develop effective mechanisms for regional cooperation.