Martin Zimmermann to stand down as Chairman of the ENSI Board at the end of June 2020

Martin Zimmermann will step down from his position as Chairman of the ENSI Board at the end of June 2020. The decision was triggered by publicly expressed accusations of a lack of independence on his part.

Martin Zimmermann has today – Wednesday, 24 June 2020 – announced his resignation as Chairman of the ENSI Board. He will be leaving the ENSI Board at the end of June. The decision was triggered by accusations of a lack of independence that have been expressed in the media as well as in procedural requests. “It is very important for me to protect the credibility of ENSI,” Zimmermann said in relation to his decision. “The very semblance of partiality could have a detrimental effect on the organisation.” For that reason, Zimmermann has decided to step down from the ENSI Board at the end of June 2020.

Zimmermann emphasises that he has always complied with all legal requirements relating to his mandate – whether from a technical perspective or with regard to his independence.

Martin Zimmermann has been a member of the ENSI Board since 2017 and was elected Chairman of the ENSI Board by the Federal Council with effect from 1 January 2020. The ENSI Board is the strategic and internal supervisory body of ENSI and is made up of five to seven members. The duties of the ENSI Board are regulated by the ENSI Act (Art. 6 Para. 6 of the ENSIG). The ENSI Board has no influence on the operational activities of ENSI. Technical decisions regarding the regulation of nuclear facilities are solely made by the ENSI Executive Board.