2002D0668 — EN — 26.04.2004 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COUNCIL DECISION
of 3 June 2002
concerning the sixth framework programme of the European Atomic Energy Community
(Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities, also contributing to the creation of the
European Research Area (2002 to 2006)
(2002/668/Euratom)
(OJ L 232, 29.8.2002, p. 34)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1 Council Decision 2004/444/Euratom of 26 April 2004 L 127 112 29.4.2004
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COUNCIL DECISION
of 3 June 2002
concerning the sixth framework programme of the European
Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research andtraining activities, also contributing to the creation of the European
Research Area (2002 to 2006)
(2002/668/Euratom)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
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),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (3),
Whereas:
(1) A framework programme covering all research activities,
including demonstration and training activities in the field ofnuclear energy, to be implemented by means of research and
training programmes, may be adopted pursuant to Article 7 of
the Treaty.
(2) In 2000 the Commission submitted two communications, respec-tively on the prospects for and the objectives of creating a
European Research Area, and on making a reality of the
European Research Area and guidelines for European Unionresearch activities in the period 2002 to 2006. In 2000 theCommission also submitted a communication on innovation in aknowledge-driven economy.
(3) The European Councils in Lisbon in March 2000, Santa Mariade Feira in June 2000 and Stockholm in March 2001 adoptedconclusions aimed at the rapid establishment of a Europeanresearch and innovation area with a view to sustainableeconomic growth, more employment and social cohesion. The
Göteborg European Council in June 2001 agreed a strategy for
sustainable development and added a third, environmentaldimension to the Lisbon strategy.
(4) The European Parliament (4)(5), the Council (6)(7), the Economic
and Social Committee (8) and the Committee of the Regions (9)
have also supported the establishment of the European ResearchArea.
(5) On 19 October 2000 the Commission submitted the conclusions
of an external assessment of the implementation and results of
the Community activities carried out in the five years precedingthat assessment, accompanied by its observations.
(6) It is therefore important to adopt a new framework programme
for the period 2002 to 2006, also contributing to the establish-
ment of the European Research Area and encouraginginnovation.
(7) The sixth framework programme sets out the scientific and tech-nological objectives and priorities of the activities envisaged and2002D0668 — EN — 26.04.2004 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ C 180 E, 26.6.2001, p. 177.
(2) OJ C 140 E, 13.6.2002, p. 371.
(3) OJ C 260, 17.9.2001, p. 3.
(4) Resolution of 18 May 2000 (OJ C 59, 23.2.2001, p. 250).
(5) Resolution of 15 February 2001 (C 276, 1. 10. 2001, p. 271).
(6) Resolution of 15 June 2000 (OJ C 205, 19.7.2000, p. 1).
(7) Resolution of 16 November 2000 (OJ C 374, 28.12.2000, p. 1).
(8) Opinion of 24 May 2000 (OJ C 204, 18.7.2000, p. 70).
(9) Opinion of 12 April 2000 (OJ C 226, 8.8.2000, p. 18).
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indicates the broad lines of those activities which will be imple-
mented in compliance with the objective of protecting theCommunity's financial interest. It is important to ensure sound
financial management of the sixth framework programme.
(8) A financial reference amount within the meaning of point 34 of
the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between theEuropean Parliament, the Council and the Commission on
budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary proce-
dure (
1) is included in this Decision for the entire duration of
the framework programme, without thereby affecting the powersof the budgetary authority as they are defined in the Treaty.
(9) The Joint Research Centre should contribute to the implementa-tion of the framework programme where it can provideindependent, customer-driven support for the formulation andimplementation of Community policies, including the monitoringof the implementation of such policies, in the areas of itsspecific competence.
(10) Research activities carried out within the sixth frameworkprogramme should respect fundamental ethical principles,including those reflected in Article 6 of the Treaty on EuropeanUnion and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European
Union, as well as the need to take into account public accept-
ability of these activities.
(11) Following the Commission communication ‘Women andscience’, and the Resolutions of the Council of 20 May 1999 (
2)
and 26 June 2001 (3) and the Resolution of the European Parlia-
ment of 3 February 2000 (4) on this theme, an action plan is
being implemented in order to boost and increase the place androle of women in science and research in Europe, which shouldensure the respect of equality of opportunity, irrespective ofgender.
(12) The Commission Green Paper ‘Towards a European strategy forenergy supply security’ constitutes an element in the debate onthe means of combating climate change and reducing Europe'sdependence on imported energy.
(13) It is appropriate that the Commission should submit regularprogress reports to the European Parliament and the Council onthe implementation of the sixth framework programme and thatit should have an independent assessment carried out concerningthe implementation of the activities in good time and before
submitting its proposal for the next framework programme.
Such assessment should be carried out in a spirit of opennesswith respect to all the relevant actors.
(14) The international and global dimension in European researchactivities is important in the interest of obtaining mutual bene-
fits. The sixth framework programme is open to the
participation of countries having concluded the necessary agree-ments to this effect, and is also open on the project level and onthe basis of mutual benefit, to the participation of entities fromthird countries and of international organisations for scientific
cooperation.
(15) The sixth framework programme should contribute to enlarge-
ment by bringing scientific and technological support to thecandidate countries for the implementation of Community acquis
and for their integration into te European Research Area. Infor-
mation on the opportunities for participating in the programme
should be provided to potential participants in a timely and thor-ough manner.2002D0668 — EN — 26.04.2004 — 001.001 — 3
(1) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 201, 16.7.1999, p. 1.
(3) OJ C 199, 14.7.2001, p. 1.
(4) OJ C 309, 27.10.2000, p. 57.
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(16) The Scientific and Technical Committee has been consulted by
the Commission and has delivered its opinion,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
1. A multi-annual framework programme for nuclear research and
training activities, hereinafter referred to as the ‘sixth frameworkprogramme’, is hereby adopted for the period 2002 to 2006.
2. The sixth framework programme shall comprise Community
research, technological development, international cooperation, disse-mination and exploitation activities as well as training under thefollowing headings:
— controlled thermonuclear fusion,
— management of radioactive waste,— radiation protection,— other activities in the field of nuclear technologies and safety,— nuclear activities of the Joint Research Centre.
3. Annex I sets out the scientific and technological objectives and
the related priorities and indicates the broad lines of the activities envi-
saged.
Article 2
1. The financial reference amount for the implementation of the
sixth framework programme for the period 2002 to 2006 shall be
EUR 1 352 million. The proportion assigned to each of the activitiesis fixed in Annex II.
2. The detailed rules for financial participation by the Community
shall be governed by the Financial Regulation applicable to the GeneralBudget of the European Communities, supplemented by Annex III,and, where appropriate, by the research and training programme(s)which the Council will adopt in order to implement this Decision.
Article 3
All research activities carried out under the sixth framework
programme shall be carried out in compliance with fundamental ethicalprinciples.
Article 4
The sixth framework programme shall be implemented through
research and training programmes. These programmes shall establishprecise objectives and detailed rules for implementation.
Article 5
1. The Commission shall continually and systematically monitor,
with the help of independent qualified experts, the implementation of
the sixth framework programme and its research and training
programmes.
2. Progress with implementing the sixth framework programme, and
in particular progress towards achieving its objectives and meeting itspriorities, including its financial aspects, shall be presented in detail in
the report to be submitted by the Commission each year pursuant to
Article 7 of the Treaty.
Article 6
Before submitting its proposal for the next framework programme, the
Commission shall have an external assessment carried out by indepen-dent, highly qualified experts of the implementation and achievements2002D0668 — EN — 26.04.2004 — 001.001 — 4
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of Community activities during the five years preceding that assess-
ment.
The Commission shall communicate the conclusions thereof, accompa-
nied by its observations, to the European Parliament, the Council, the
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.2002D0668 — EN — 26.04.2004 — 001.001 — 5
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ANNEX I
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL OBJECTIVES, BROAD LINES
OF ACTIVITIES AND PRIORITIES
In order to fulfil the objectives concerning nuclear research and training activ-
ities as set out in the Euratom Treaty, and in order to contribute to the
establishment of the European Research Area, the sixth framework programme
(Euratom), hereafter referred to as ‘this programme’, will be structured as
outlined below.
Participation in this programme as a whole shall be open to all countries having
concluded association agreements with the Community to this effect. Other third
countries may participate in this programme via bilateral cooperation agree-
ments. Researchers and organisations from third countries may also participate
on a case by case basis in projects.
1. PRIORITY THEMATIC AREAS OF RESEARCH1.1. Controlled thermonuclear fusion
Controlled thermonuclear fusion could contribute to long-term energy
supply and, therefore, to the requirements of sustainable development for
a reliable centralised supply of baseload electricity.
For reasons bound up with the complexity of fundamental knowledge in
physics and the technological problems to be resolved, the developments
needed for the possible application of fusion for energy production will
necessarily take the form of a process in several steps, each of which has
an impact on the next one. However, in a more immediate time frame,
research into fusion technologies could give rise to useful technological
spin-offs.
The efforts deployed in the context of the integrated European research
programme on controlled thermonuclear fusion have enabled Europe to
become a world leader in the field of research into fusion by magnetic
confinement.
The progress made on the research and the results obtained, in particular
with the European JET Tokamak, now make it possible to consider moving
on to the ‘Next Step’, which would produce a machine capable of gener-
ating fusion reactions in conditions comparable to that of an energy
production reactor.
The completion of the preparatory work on the detailed design of the ‘Next
Step’ in the context of the ITER international cooperation project makes it
possible to take a decision about the launching of this project and the
construction of the machine.
The objective of this will be to demonstrate the scientific and technological
feasibility of fusion energy production, bearing in mind the socio-economic
aspects. The precise arrangements for implementing the project will depend
on the outcome of the negotiations at present under way in the framework
of international cooperation and subsequent developments, more particu-
larly the decisions taken concerning Europe's contribution to the ITER
project and the site where the machine is to be installed. An appropriate
legal framework will need to be established.
Participation in the ITER initiative requires the implementation of an
accompanying programme including the following elements:
— operation of the JET machine in such a way as to derive benefit from
the improvements currently being made. Possible participation in the
research activities needed for the decommissioning of fusion facilities,
— the continuation of research into fusion physics and technology,
including: study and evaluation of magnetic confinement formulas,
with, in particular, the continuation of the construction of the Wendel-
stein 7-X ‘stellarator’ and operation of the existing installations in the
Euratom associations; coordinated activities regarding technological
research, in particular research into materials for fusion.2002D0668 — EN — 26.04.2004 — 001.001 — 6
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1.2. Management of radioactive waste
Nuclear fission energy today supplies 35 % of electricity in the Commu-
nity. It constitutes an element in the debate on the means of combatingclimate change and reducing Europe's dependence on imported energy.
Some of the power plants of the current generation will continue to be
operated for at least 20 years.
For these reasons, the exploitation of nuclear fission energy for energy
production requires progress to be made in the problem of waste, and
more particularly the industrial implementation of technical solutions for
the management of long-lived waste.
European public and private sector research efforts with regard to nuclear
waste treatment and storage technologies are significant. Through its coor-
dination effects, Community action in this area makes it possible to
assemble them into a critical mass and ensure the coherence of the guide-
lines adopted by the waste management organisations and industries
concerned.
Actions will cover both the problem of waste management and the question
of reducing its impact. In this connection, they will address the following
aspects:
— research into processes for long-term storage in deep geological strata,
with the networking of the activities carried out on various sites in the
three main types of geological formations envisaged,
— research aimed at reducing the impact of waste, in particular through
the development of new technologies to reduce the hazards associated
with waste by means of partitioning and transmutation techniques, as
well as exploring the potential of concepts to produce less waste in
nuclear energy generation.
1.3. Radiation protection
Vigilance is still required to ensure a continuation of the Community's
outstanding safety record. The enlargement of the Union also introduces
new challenges. The improvement of radiation protection continues to be
a priority area. In this programme these activities will be carried out mainly
in the following areas:
— the quantification of the risks associated with low levels of exposure,
— medical exposure and exposure to natural sources,— radio-ecology,— risk and emergency management,— protection of the workplace and the environment.
2. OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES
AND SAFETY
The activities carried out under this heading are intended to:
— respond to the scientific and technical needs of the policies of the
Community in the fields of health, energy and the environment,
— ensure that the European capability is maintained at a high level in rele-
vant fields not covered by priority thematic areas,
— contribute towards the creation of the European Research Area.
These activities will be carried out mainly in the following areas:
— innovative concepts: evaluation of the potential of innovative concepts
that offer advantages in terms of safety, environmental impact, resource
utilisation, proliferation resistance; development of improved and safer
processes in the field of nuclear energy,
— education and training concerning nuclear safety and radiation protec-
tion aimed at integration and consolidation of national efforts to
achieve economy of scale, and covering in addition such areas as mobi-
lity and human resources, transnational access to infrastructure, and
coordination activities,
— measures for the safety of existing nuclear installations.
3. NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES OF THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE (JRC)
The JRC's activities will aim to support related Community policies and
specific Treaty obligations. Focussing its activities in areas where Commu-
nity involvement is appropriate, the JRC operates where its European
identity provides added value and where its action is justified by the
cross-border aspects of nuclear safety and security or by public concern.
The principal objective will be to further develop collaboration through2002D0668 — EN — 26.04.2004 — 001.001 — 7
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networking, leading to broad consensus on a range of these issues at a
European and world level. Special attention will be given to cooperation
with candidate countries. Training activities will be an important compo-
nent for the JRC to help equip the Community with a future generation of
scientists with the necessary competencies and expertise. The main areas of
research activity will therefore be as follows (1):
3.1. Nuclear safety and security
Research into waste treatment and storage (in particular separation and
transmutation techniques for long-lived actinides) and radiation protection;
safety of different types of reactors with priority for reactors in the candi-
date countries, and the development of control methods with regard to
fissile materials, as well as technical support for nuclear non-proliferation.
Staff for monitoring the decommissioning of obsolete nuclear installations
will be provided.
3.2. Measurements and reference materials
Radionuclide metrology, in particular in the case of low activity and round
robin tests in the framework of networks of laboratories of excellence;
interaction between neutrons and matter for the generation of base data
for studies concerning the transmutation of waste and the development of
new systems. This activity will principally provide horizontal support for
actions under title 3.1 above.2002D0668 — EN — 26.04.2004 — 001.001 — 8
(1) In addition, the JRC is entitled to participate in all research activities on the same basis
as entities established in Member States.
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ANNEX II
MAXIMUM OVERALL AMOUNT, RESPECTIVE SHARES AND INDICATIVE BREAK-
DOWN
(EUR million)
1. Priority thematic areas of research 978
1.1. Controlled thermonuclear fusion 824
1.2. Management of radioactive waste 991.3. Radiation protection 55
2. Other activities in the field of nuclear technologies and safety 553. Nuclear activities of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) 319
Total 1 3522002D0668 — EN — 26.04.2004 — 001.001 — 9
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ANNEX III
INSTRUMENTS
Introduction
The Community's budgetary intervention in indirect actions (i.e. those not
undertaken by the JRC) is aimed at research centres, universities, businesses
and national or international bodies situated in the Member States and the
European associated states which carry out research activities. The latter may
also act as intermediaries for Community budgetary intervention. Where this
proves necessary to achieve the objectives of the programme, bodies in the
newly independent states (NIS) and international organisations may exception-
ally receive Community funding.
1. INSTRUMENTS IN FUSION ENERGY
In the field of fusion energy research under Heading 1.1 of Annex I, the
particular nature of the activities in this area necessitates the implementation
of specific arrangements. The projects undertaken will be carried out on the
basis of procedures set out in:
— contracts of association,
— the European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA),— any other multilateral agreement concluded between the Community and
associated organisations and/or legal entities which may be set up, after
the competent consultative committee has given its opinion,
— other contracts of limited duration, in particular with bodies in the
Member States or the States associated with the Euratom framework
programme,
— international agreements covering projects carried out in the framework
of cooperation with third countries, such as the ITER.
The activities to coordinate and support fusion energy research may concern
studies in support of these activities, support for information exchange,
recourse to external expertise capacities, including for the independent
evaluation of activities, fellowships and training schemes, publications and
other actions to promote technology transfer.
2. INSTRUMENTS IN OTHER FIELDS
In the fields of management of radioactive waste and radiation protection of
the priority thematic areas of research under Headings 1.2 and 1.3 of Annex I
as well in other activities under Heading 2, the Community, subject to the
specific programmes and rules for participation, will contribute:
— to networks of excellence, aimed at strengthening and developing
Community scientific and technological excellence by means of the inte-
gration, at European level, of research capacities currently existing or
emerging at both national and regional level,
— to integrated projects, designed to give increased impetus to the Commu-
nity's competitiveness or to address major societal needs by mobilising a
critical mass of research and technological development resources and
competences,
— specific targeted projects, designed to gain new knowledge either to
improve considerably or to develop new products, processes or services
or to meet other needs of society and Community policies or to demon-
strate the viability of new technologies offering potential economic
advantage but which cannot be commercialised directly,
— actions to promote and develop human resources and mobility,— coordination actions, intended to promote and support coordinated initia-
tives of a range of research and innovation operators aiming at improved
integration,
— specific support actions, such as actions aimed at exploiting the results of
research and transfer of knowledge and actions in support of research
infrastructure relating to, for instance, transnational access or preparatory
technical work (including feasibility studies),
— integrated infrastructure initiatives, combining in a single action several
activities essential to reinforce and develop research infrastructures in
order to provide services at the European level.
3. DIRECT ACTIONS — JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE
Direct actions will be implemented by the JRC.2002D0668 — EN — 26.04.2004 — 001.001 — 10