The conventions are based on the principle of voluntary commitment of the Countries, which remain solely responsible for the facilities under their own jurisdiction.
Two conventions relate to the prevention of nuclear accidents (Convention on Nuclear Safety and Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management), while two others relate to the management of their consequences (Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency). France is a contracting party to these four conventions. IAEA is the depository of these conventions and provides the relevant secretariat services.