COMMISSION DECISION
of 22 November 2007
on the conclusion of Agreements in the form of Exchange of Letters between the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and the Swiss Confederation (Switzerland) on the application of the ITER Agreement, the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities for ITER and the Broader Approach Agreement to the territory of Switzerland and on Switzerland’s membership in the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy
(2008/72/Euratom)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular the third paragraph of Article 101 thereof,
Having regard to Council Decision 2006/976/Euratom (1) of 19 December 2006 concerning the Specific Programme implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for nuclear research and training activities,
Having regard to Council Decision of 25 September 2006 concerning the conclusion, by the Commission, of the Agreement on the Establishment of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project (the ITER Agreement), of the Arrangement on Provisional Application of the Agreement on the Establishment of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation on the ITER Project and of the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project (the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities for ITER),
Having regard to Council Decision 2007/614/Euratom of 30 January 2007 (2) concerning the conclusion, by the Commission, of the Agreement between the European Atomic Energy Community and the Government of Japan for the Joint Implementation of the Broader Approach Activities in the Field of Fusion Energy Research (the Broader Approach Agreement),
Having regard to Council Decision 2007/198/Euratom of 27 March 2007 (3) establishing the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy (the Joint Undertaking) and conferring advantages upon it (Decision 2007/198/Euratom),
Having regard to the Cooperation Agreement between the European Atomic Energy Community and the Swiss Confederation in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion and plasma physics (4),
Whereas:
(1)
The ITER Agreement, the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities for ITER and the Broader Approach Agreement provide that they also apply to the territory of the Swiss Confederation, participating in the Euratom fusion programme as fully associated third State, in accordance with the Euratom Treaty or relevant agreement.
(2)
The Decision 2007/198/Euratom and the Statutes attached to the former (the Statutes) foresee the membership of third countries in the Joint Undertaking which have concluded a cooperation agreement with Euratom in the field of controlled nuclear fusion that associates their respective research programmes with the Euratom programmes and which have expressed their wish to become Members of the Joint Undertaking.
(3)
Annex I to the Statutes already provides for voting rights of Switzerland in the Governing Board of the Joint Undertaking as its Member.
(4)
Switzerland that contributes substantially to the Euratom programme in fusion energy research formally expressed its intention to become a member of the Joint Undertaking for an initial period of duration of the 7th Framework programme of Euratom.
(5)
It is in the interest of the Community to formally agree with Switzerland the application of the ITER Agreement, the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities for ITER and the Broader Approach Agreement to the territory of Switzerland and the modalities of Switzerland’s membership in the Joint Undertaking,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
1. The conclusion of the Agreement in the form of Exchange of Letters between the European Atomic Energy Community and the Swiss Confederation on the application of the Agreement on the Establishment of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the joint implementation of the ITER Project, the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project and the Agreement between Euratom and the Government of Japan for the joint implementation of the Broader Approach Activities in the field of fusion energy research to the territory of the Swiss Confederation is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.
2. The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision as Annex I.
Article 2
1. The conclusion of the Agreement in the form of Exchange of Letters between the European Atomic Energy Community and the Swiss Confederation on Switzerland’s membership in the Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.
2. The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision as Annex II.
Article 3
The Commissioner responsible for Research or a person designated by him is hereby authorised to sign the respective letters referred to in Article 1 and 2 on behalf of the Community.
Done at Brussels, 22 November 2007.