INLEX serves three major functions, namely to: (a) Create a forum of expertise to explore and advise on issues related to nuclear liability; (b) Enhance global adherence by nuclear and non-nuclear States to an effective nuclear liability regime, inter alia, on the basis of the?Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage?and the Annex thereto, the?Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, the?Paris Convention on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy, the?Joint Protocol Relating to the Application of the Vienna Convention and the Paris Convention, and the amendments thereto; and (c) Assist in the development and strengthening of the national nuclear liability legal frameworks in IAEA Member States to protect the public and the environment, and to enhance nuclear safety.

Since the establishment of INLEX, the Group has held regular annual meetings. During the course of these meetings, INLEX has explored and advised on issues regarding the existing international liability regime for nuclear damage, in particular, concerning the international liability instruments adopted under Agency auspices. In this context, INLEX finalized?explanatory texts on the nuclear liability instruments adopted under Agency auspices in 1997, as a comprehensive study and authoritative interpretation of the Agency's nuclear liability regime. The explanatory texts have been published by the Agency as publication?STI/PUB/1768. In addition, to the explanatory texts, this publication includes an overview of the Agency's nuclear liability regime, and brings together the texts of the Agency’s nuclear liability instruments. Finally, this publication includes a matrix of comparative provisions in the various nuclear liability instruments.

An earlier version of the explanatory texts (and the overview) is also available to Member States in all official languages:

-?Arabic?|?Chinese?|?English?|?French?|?Russian?|?Spanish

INLEX also finalized an?explanatory text on the 1988 Joint Protocol Relating to the Application of the Vienna Convention and the Paris Convention. This explanatory text has been published by the Agency as publication?STI/PUB/1593.

Following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the 2011 IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety specifically called on INLEX to recommend actions to facilitate a global nuclear liability regime that addresses the concern of all States that might be affected by a nuclear accident, with a view to providing appropriate compensation for nuclear damage. In 2012, INLEX discussed and finalized its?recommendations?as requested by the Action Plan.