COUNCIL DECISION of 19 December 1991 adopting a research and training programme in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion (1990 to 1994) (91/678/Euratom)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 7 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), which has consulted the Scientific and Technical Committee,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas, by Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC (4), the Council adopted a third Framework Programme of Community activities in the field of research and technological development (1990 to 1994), specifying inter alia the research activities to be pursued in the area of controlled thermonuclear fusion; whereas this Decision should be taken as appropriate in the light of the grounds set out in the preamble to that Decision;
Whereas for activities covered by the EAEC Treaty, Article 2 of Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC provides for the implementation of the third Framework Programme through specific programmes adopted in accordance with Article 7 of the said Treaty;
Whereas the Commission has arranged for the evaluation and appraisal provided for in Article 3 of Council Decision 88/448/Euratom of 25 July 1988 adopting a multiannual research and training programme in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion (5) and is submitting this proposal on the basis of that evaluation and appraisal;
Whereas the the Joint Research Centre will contribute through its own programme to the implementation of the aforesaid activities;
Whereas basic research in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion must be encouraged throughout the Community;
Whereas, in addition to the specific programme concerning human resources and mobility, it might be necessary to encourage the training of research workers and engineers in the context of this programme;
Whereas, in the context of this programme, it is desirable that an assessment be made of the economic and social impact as well as of any technological risks;
Whereas, pursuant to Article 4 and Annex I of Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC the amount deemed necessary for the whole Framework Programme includes an amount of ECU 57 million for the centralized dissemination and exploitation of the results to be divided up in proportion to the amount envisaged for each individual programme;
Whereas the implementation of the European Torus (JET) project has been entrusted to the 'Joint European Torus (JET), Joint Undertaking`, established by Decision 78/471/Euratom (6), as last amended by Decision 91/677/Euratom (7);
Whereas the programme embraces all work carried out in the Member States in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion by magnetic confinement; whereas the execution of this programme must involve the selection of research and development projects to enable them to benefit from Community participation;
Whereas the project to be carried out under the programme must be selected with special attention to the principle of economic and social cohesion in the Community, the transnational nature of the projects and the support to be given to small and medium-sized enterprises;
Whereas the Community's activities aimed at strengthening the scientific and technological basis of European industry and encouraging it to become more competitive include promoting cooperation on research and technological development with third countries and international organizations; whereas such cooperation may prove particularly beneficial to the development of this programme;
Whereas, pursuant to Article 101 of the EAEC Treaty the Community has concluded Cooperation Agreements in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion and plasma physics with the Kingdom of Sweden and with the Swiss Confederation; whereas the Community has entered into an Agreement of Participation in the International thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER) conceptual design activities, together with Japan, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America and is negotiating an Agreement of Participation in the International thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER) engineering design activities together with the same countries; whereas the Community has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Canada on the involvement of Canada in the European contribution to the ITER conceptual design activities;
Whereas it is necessary, as Annex II to the Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC provides, to conduct in the Community a fusion programme whose long-term objective is the joint creation of safe, environmentally sound prototype reactors,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
A research and training programme for the European Atomic Energy Community in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion, as defined in Annex I, is hereby adopted for a period running from 19 December 1991 to 31 December 1994.
Article 2
1. The Community funds estimated as necessary for the execution of the programme amount to ECU 411,84 million, including expenditure on staff and administration amounting to ECU 77 million.
2. An indicative allocation of funds is set out in Annex II.
3. Should the Council take a Decision in implementation of Article 1 (4) of Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC, this Decision shall be adapted to take account of the abovementioned Decision.
Article 3
Detailed rules for the implementation of the programme and the amount of the Community's financial contribution are set out in Annex III.
Article 4
1. In the course of the second year of implementation of the programme, the Commission shall review it and transmit a report on the results of the review to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee, together with proposals for any necessary changes.
2. At the end of the programme, an evaluation of the results achieved shall be conducted for the Commission by a group of independent experts. This group's report, together with any comments by the Commission, shall be transmitted to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee.
3. The reports referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be drawn up having regard to the objectives set out in Annex I to this Decision and in accordance with Article 2 (4) of Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC.
Article 5
For the implementation of the programme, the Commission shall be assisted by the Consultative Committee for the Fusion Programme set up by Council Decision of 16 December 1980.
Article 6
The Commission is authorized to negotiate, in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 101 of the EAEC Treaty, international agreements with third countries members of COST, in particular member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and central and eastern European countries, with a view to associating them with the whole or part of the programme.
Article 7
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 19 December 1991.