Nuclear waste is often described as an eternal burden. For the human imagination, such long periods of time are hard to comprehend; instead, fears, worries and ideas fed by past and present experiences prevail, out of which expectations for the future are developed. The aim of this research is to explore how certain sites develop significance and meaning as spaces of nuclear cultural heritage and how this relates to the long-term planning necessary for dealing with nuclear waste.

We analysed the legal framework of the StandAG as well as learning requirements and possibilities between central actors of the procedure of site selection for a final repository. Besides a literature review and a jurisdictional analysis of the StandAG, several interviews with different actors of the procedure as well as workshops were conducted. In summary, we identified challenges and developed recommendations for several formats of learning at different levels.

The focus of this presentation lies on the challenges of cross-border participation based on previous experience in other subject areas and specific cultural and political framework conditions in neighbouring countries. It addresses the questions, what risks and obstacles must be taken into account in cross-border public participation and how these can be overcome. Further it argues, that political framework conditions vary and have an effect on the expectations towards public participation.