L 400/60 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.12.2006 
 II 
(Acts whose publication is not obligatory) 
COUNCIL 
COUNCIL DECISION 
of 18 December 2006 
Concerning the Seventh Framework Programme 
of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) 
for nuclear research and training activities (2007 to 2011) 
(2006/970/Euratom) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro pean Atomic Energy Community, and in particular 
Article 7 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament 
1, 
Having regard to the Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee 2, 
                                                 
1 Opinion of 15 June 2006 (not yet publ ished in the Official Journal). 
2 OJ C 65, 17.3.2006, p. 9. 
30.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 400/61 
 Whereas: 
(1) Joint national and European efforts in the area of research and tr aining are essential to 
promote and ensure economic growth and citizen's wellbeing in Europe. 
(2) The Seventh Framework Programme should co mplement other EU actions in the area of 
the research policy that are necessary for the implementati on of the Lisbon strategy, in 
particular those on education, trainin g, competitiveness and innovation, industry, 
employment, and environment. 
(3) The Seventh Framework Programme builds on the achievements of its predecessor towards 
the creation of the European Research Ar ea and carries them further towards the 
development of the knowledge eco nomy and society in Europe. 
(4) The Commission Green Paper ‘Towards a Eu ropean strategy for energy supply‘ highlights 
the contribution of nuclear power to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and to 
reducing Europe's dependence on imported energy. 
(5) On 24 August 2005, the Commi ssion submitted the conclusions of an external assessment 
of the implementation and results of the Community activities in this field carried out in the five years preceding that assessm ent, accompanied by its observations. 
L 400/62 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.12.2006 
 (6) With reference to the Council Decision of 26 November 2004 amendi ng the directives of 
negotiations on International Thermonuclear E xperimental Reactor (ITER), the realisation 
of ITER in Europe, within a broader appr oach to fusion energy, should be the central 
feature of the activities on  fusion research carried out  under the Seventh Framework 
Programme. 
(7) Implementation of the Seventh Framework Pr ogramme may give rise to the setting up of 
joint undertakings within the meaning of Articles 45 to 51 of the Treaty. 
(8) Research activities supported by the Seve nth Framework Programme should comply with 
fundamental ethical principles, including thos e reflected in the Charter of Fundamental 
Rights of the European Union. The opinions of  the European Group on Ethics in Science 
and New Technologies are and will be taken into account. 
(9) This Decision establishes, for the entire duration of the programme , a financial envelope 
which constitutes the prime referen ce within the meaning of point 37  of the 
Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, 
the Council and the Commission on budgeta ry discipline and sound financial 
management1, for the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary procedure. 
                                                 
1 OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1.  
30.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 400/63 
 (10) It is important to ensure sound fina ncial management of the Seventh Framework 
Programme and its implementation in the most effective and user-friendly manner 
possible, as well as ease of  access for all participants. 
(11) Under the Seventh Framework Programme, due  regard should be paid to the role of 
women in science and research with a view to further enhancing their active role in 
research. 
(12) The Joint Research Centre (JRC) should c ontribute to providing cust omer-driven scientific 
and technological support for the formul ation, development, implementation and 
monitoring of Community policies. In this rega rd, it is useful that the JRC continues to 
function as an independent re ference centre of science and technology in the EU in the 
areas of its specific competence. 
(13) The international and global dimension in Eu ropean research activities is important in the 
interest of obtaining mutual benefits. Th e Seventh Framework Programme should be open 
to the participation of countri es having concluded the necessar y agreements to this effect, 
and should also be open, on the project level a nd on the basis of mutu al benefit, to the 
participation of entities from third countries and that of international organisations for 
scientific cooperation. 
L 400/64 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.12.2006 
 (14) The Seventh Framework Progr amme should contribute to the enlargement of the European 
Union by bringing scientific a nd technological support to the candidate countries for the 
implementation of Community acquis and for their integration into the European Research 
Area. 
(15) Appropriate measures shoul d also be taken to prevent i rregularities and fraud and the 
necessary steps should be taken to recover funds  lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used, in 
accordance with Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests 
1, Council Regulation 
(Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and 
inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' 
financial interests against fr aud and other irregularities2 and Council Regulation (Euratom) 
No 1074/1999 of 25 May 1999 concerning inves tigations conducted by the European 
Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)3. 
(16) The Scientific and Tech nical Committee has been consul ted by the Commission and has 
delivered its opinion, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:  
                                                 
1 OJ L 312, 23.12.1995, p. 1. 
2 OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2. 
3 OJ L 136, 31.5.1999, p. 8. 
30.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 400/65 
 Article 1 
Adoption of the Seventh Framework Programme 
A multiannual framework programme for nuclear research and training activities, hereinafter 
referred to as the "Seventh Framework Progra mme", is hereby adopted for the period from 
1 January 2007 to 31 December 2011. 
Article 2 
Objectives 
1. The Seventh Framework Programme shall pursue  the general objectives set out in Article 1 
and Article 2(a) of the Treaty, while contributing towards the creation of a 
knowledge-based society, building on the European Research Area. 
2. The Seventh Framework Programme shall co mprise Community rese arch, technological 
development, international cooperation, di ssemination of technical information and 
exploitation activities as well as training, to be set out in two specific programmes. 
The first specific programme shall cover the following: (a) fusion energy research, with the objec tive of developing the technology for a safe, 
sustainable, environmentally responsible  and economically viable energy source;  
(b) nuclear fission and radiation protection, with  the objective of enhancing in particular 
the safety performance, resource efficiency  and cost-effectiveness of nuclear fission 
and other uses of radiation in industry and medicine. 
L 400/66 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.12.2006 
 The second specific programme shall cover the activities of the Join t Research Centre 
(JRC) in the field of nuclear energy. 
3. The broad lines of the specific pr ogrammes are described in Annex I. 
Article 3 
Maximum overall amount and shares assigned to each programme 
1. The maximum overall amount for the implementation of the Seventh Framework 
Programme for the period 2007 to 2011 shall be EUR 2 751 million. That amount shall be 
distributed as follows (in EUR million): 
Fusion energy research1 1 947 
Nuclear fission and radiation protection 287 
Nuclear activities of the JRC 517 
2. The detailed rules for Community financia l participation in the Seventh Framework 
Programme are set out in Annex II.  
                                                 
1 Within the amount foreseen for fusion ener gy research, at least EUR 900 million will be 
reserved to activities other than the construction of ITER , listed in Annex I.  
30.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 400/67 
 Article 4 
Protection of the Communiti es' financial interests 
For Community actions financed under this D ecision, Regulations (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 and 
(Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 shall apply to any in fringement of a provisi on of Community law, 
including infringement of a cont ractual obligation stipul ated on the basis of the Seventh Framework 
Programme, resulting from an act or omission by an  economic operator, which has, or would have, 
the effect of prejudicing the ge neral budget of the European Uni on or budgets managed by it, by an 
unjustified item of expenditure. 
Article 5 
Fundamental ethical principles 
All the research activities carried  out under the Seventh Framework Programme shall be carried out 
in compliance with fundamental ethical principles. 
Article 6 
Monitoring, assessment and review 
1. The Commission shall continually and system atically monitor the implementation of the 
Seventh Framework Programme and its spec ific programmes and regularly report and 
disseminate the results of this monitoring. 
L 400/68 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.12.2006 
 2. Not later than 2010, the Commission shall carry  out, with the assistance of external 
experts, an evidence-based interim evalua tion of the Seventh Fr amework Programme and 
its specific programmes building upon the ex -post evaluation of the Sixth Framework 
Programme. This evaluation shall cover the qual ity of the research activities taking place, 
as well as the quality of implementation a nd management, and the progress towards the 
objectives set. 
3. Following the completion of the Seventh Framework Programme, the Commission shall 
cause to be carried out an external evalua tion by independent expe rts of its rationale, 
implementation and achievements. 
The Commission shall communicate the conc lusions thereof, accompanied by its 
observations, to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social 
Committee and the Committee of the Regions. 
30.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 400/69 
 Article 7 
Entry into force 
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of 
the European Union. 
Done at Brussels, 18 December 2006. 
 For the Council 
 The President 
 J.-E. ENESTAM 
 
L 400/70 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.12.2006 
 ANNEX I  
 
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL OBJECTIVES, 
THEMES AND ACTIVITIES  
INTRODUCTION 
The Seventh Framework Programme of the Eur opean Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for 
nuclear research and training activ ities is organised in two part s corresponding to  the "indirect" 
actions on fusion energy research and nuclear fission and radiation prot ection, and the "direct" 
research activities of the JRC. 
I.A. FUSION ENERGY RESEARCH 
Objective 
Developing the knowledge base for, and realising ITER as  the major step towa rds, the creation of 
prototype reactors for power stati ons which are safe, sustainable, environmentally responsible, and 
economically viable. 
30.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 400/71 
 Rationale 
There are serious shortcomings in Europe's en ergy supply with respect to short, medium, and 
long-term considerations. In particular, measures ar e needed to address the issues of security of 
supply, climate change, and sustainable developmen t, while ensuring that future economic growth 
is not threatened. 
In addition to the efforts which the EU is making in the field of research into renewable energies, 
fusion has the potential to make a major contributi on to the realisation of a sustainable and secure 
energy supply for the EU a few decades from now  after the market penetration of commercial 
fusion reactors . Its successful development would provide  energy which is safe, sustainable and 
environmentally friendly. The long-term goal of Eu ropean fusion research, embracing all the fusion 
activities in the Member States a nd associated third countries, is th e joint creation, in approximately 
thirty or thirty-five years and subject to technologi cal and scientific progress,  of prototype reactors 
for power stations which meet these requi rements, and are economically viable. 
The strategy to achieve the long-term goal entails,  as its first priority, the construction of ITER 
(a major experimental facility which will demonstr ate the scientific and technical feasibility of 
fusion power), followed by the construction of DEMO, a "demonstration" fusion power station. 
This will be accompanied by a dynamic programme  of supporting R&D for ITER and for the 
developments in fusion materials, technologi es and physics required for DEMO. This would 
involve European industry, the fusion associations and third countries, in pa rticular parties to the 
ITER Agreement. 
L 400/72 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.12.2006 
 Activities 
1. The realisation of ITER 
This includes activities for the joint realisat ion of ITER (as an in ternational research 
infrastructure), in particular for site prep aration, establishing the ITER Organisation and 
the European Joint Undertaking for ITER, ma nagement and staffing, general technical and 
administrative support, construction of equi pment and installations and support for the 
project during construction. 
2. R&D in preparation of ITER operation 
A focused physics and technology programme w ill exploit the relevant facilities and 
resources in the fusion programme, i.e. JET  and other magnetic confinement devices, 
existing, future or those under construction (T okamaks, Stellarators, RFPs). It will assess 
specific key ITER technologies, consolidat e ITER project choices, and prepare for 
ITER operation through experimental  and theoretical activities. 
3. Technology activities in preparation of DEMO 
This entails the vigorous deve lopment of fusion materials and key technologies for fusion, 
including blankets, and the esta blishment of a dedicated proj ect team to prepare for the 
construction of the International Fusion Materi als Irradiation Facility (IFMIF) to qualify 
materials for DEMO. It will include irradiation testing and modelling of materials, studies 
of the DEMO conceptual design, and studi es of the safety, environmental and 
socio-economic aspects of fusion energy. 
30.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 400/73 
 4. R&D activities for the longer term 
The activities will include further development of improved concepts for magnetic 
confinement schemes with potential advantages for fusion power stations (focussed on the 
completion of the construction of the W7-X stellarator device), theory and modelling 
aimed at a comprehensive understanding of  the behaviour of fusion plasmas and 
coordination, in the context of a keep-in-touc h activity, of Member States' civil research 
activities on inertial confinement. 
5. Human resources, education and training 
In view of the immediate and medium te rm needs of ITER, and for the further 
development of fusion, initiatives aimed at en suring that adequate human resources will be 
available, in terms of numbers, range of sk ills and high-level training and experience will 
be pursued,  in particular in relation to th e physics and engineering of fusion. 
6. Infrastructures 
The construction of the international fusion energy research project ITER will be an 
element of the new research infrastruc tures with a strong European dimension. 
7. Technology transfer processes 
ITER will require new and more flexible organisational structures to enable the process of 
innovation and technological progre ss which it creates to be swif tly transferred to industry, 
so that the challenges can be met to enable European industry to beco me more competitive. 
L 400/74 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.12.2006 
 I.B. NUCLEAR FISSION A ND RADIATION PROTECTION 
Objective Establishing a sound scientific and technical basis in order to accelerate practical developments for 
the safer management of long-lived radioactive waste, enhancing in particular the safety 
performance, resource efficiency and cost-effectiv eness of nuclear energy and ensuring a robust and 
socially acceptable system of protection of man and the environment against the effects of ionising 
radiation. 
Rationale Nuclear power currently generates one third of all electricity consumed in the EU and, as the most 
significant source of base-load elec tricity that, during the operation of a nuclear pow er plant, does 
not emit CO
2, constitutes an important element in the debate on the means of combating climate 
change and reducing Europe's dependence on importe d energy. The European nuclear sector as a 
whole is typified by cutting-edge technology and provides highly skilled employment for several 
hundred thousand people. More advanced nuclear tec hnology could offer the pr ospect of significant 
improvements in efficiency and use of resources , at the same time ensuring even higher safety 
standards and producing less wa ste than current designs. 
30.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 400/75 
 There are, however, important concerns that a ffect the continued use of  this energy source in 
the EU. Efforts are still required to ensure a co ntinuation of the Community's outstanding safety 
record and the improvement of radi ation protection continues to be a priority area. The key issues 
are operational reactor safety and management of long-lived waste, bot h of which are being 
addressed through continued work at  the technical level, though alli ed political and societal inputs 
are also required. In all uses of radiation, thr oughout industry and medicine  alike, the overriding 
principle is the protection of man and the environment. All thematic domains to be addressed here 
are characterised by an overriding con cern to ensure high levels of sa fety. Similarly there are clearly 
identifiable needs throughout nuclear science and e ngineering relating to avai lability of research 
infrastructures and expertise. In addition, th e individual technical areas are linked by key 
cross-cutting topics such as the nuclear fuel cy cle, actinide chemistry, risk analysis and safety 
assessment and even societal and governance issues. 
Research will also be needed to explore new scientific and technologi cal opportunities and to 
respond in a flexible way to new policy needs that arise during the c ourse of the Seventh 
Framework Programme. 
Activities 1. Management of radioactive waste 
Implementation-oriented research and devel opment activities on all remaining key aspects 
of deep geological disposal of spent fuel  and long-lived radioactive waste and, as 
appropriate, demonstration of the technol ogies and safety, and to underpin the 
development of a common European view on th e main issues related to the management 
and disposal of waste. Research on partitioning and transmutation and/or other concepts aimed at reducing the amount and/or hazard of the waste for disposal. 
L 400/76 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.12.2006 
 2. Reactor systems 
Research to underpin the conti nued safe operation of all rele vant types of existing reactor 
systems (including fuel cycle facilities), taking into account new challenges such as 
life-time extension and development of ne w advanced safety assessment methodologies 
(both the technical and human element) including  as regards severe accidents, and to assess 
the potential, the safety and waste-management aspects of future reactor systems, in the 
short and medium term, thereby maintaining the high safety standards already achieved 
within the EU and considerably improving the long-term manageme nt of radioactive 
waste. 
3. Radiation protection 
Research, in particular on the risks fro m low doses, on medical uses and on the 
management of accidents, to provide a scientif ic basis for a robust, equitable and socially 
acceptable system of protection that will not unduly limit the beneficial and widespread uses of radiation in medicine and industry. Re search to minimise the impact of nuclear and 
radiological terrorism and dive rsion of nuclear material. 
30.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 400/77 
 4. Infrastructures 
Supporting the availability of, and cooperation between, research infrastructures such as 
material test facilities, unde rground research laboratories, ra diobiology facilities and tissue 
banks, necessary to maintain high standard s of technical achievement, innovation and 
safety in the European nuclear sector. 
5. Human resources, mobility and training 
Supporting the retention and further developm ent of scientific competence and human 
capacity (for instance th rough joint training activities) in or der to guarantee the availability 
of suitably qualified researchers, engineers a nd employees in the nucl ear sector over the 
longer term. 
II. NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES OF THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE (JRC) 
Objective 
To provide customer driven scientific and technical support to the Community policy-making 
process in the nuclear field, ensuring support to  the implementation and monitoring of existing 
policies while flexibly res ponding to new policy demands. 
L 400/78 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.12.2006 
 Rationale 
The JRC supports the objectives of the European st rategy for energy supply, in particular that of 
meeting the Kyoto objectives. The Community ha s a recognised competence in many aspects of 
nuclear technology, and this is built on a solid basi s of past successes in the domain. The usefulness 
of the JRC in its support to Community policies and in its contribution to th e new trends in nuclear 
research are based on its scientif ic expertise and its integration in the international scientific 
community and on cooperation with other research centres as well as dissemination of knowledge. 
The JRC has competent staff and state-of-the-art facilities to carry out r ecognised scientific and 
technical work, aiming at keeping European resear ch at the forefront through the quality of its 
scientific and technical work. The JRC supports the policy of the Community to maintain basic 
competences and expertise for the future by giving access to its infrastructures to other researchers 
and by  training young scientists and fostering their m obility, thus sustaining nuclear know-how in 
Europe. New demand has emerged in particular in  the external relations and security-related 
policies. In these cases, in-house and secure info rmation, analyses and systems are needed which 
cannot always be obtained on the market. 
The nuclear activities of the JRC aim to satisf y the R&D requirements to  support both Commission 
and Member States. The objective of this programme  is to develop and assemble knowledge and to 
provide input to the debate on nuclear energy produc tion, its safety and reliab ility, its sustainability 
and control, its threats and chal lenges, including the assessment of innovative and future systems. 
30.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 400/79 
 Activities 
The JRC activities will focus on: 1) nuclear waste management and environmen tal impact, aiming to understand the nuclear 
fuel processes from production of energy to  waste disposal and to develop effective 
solutions for the management of high level nuclear waste following the two major options 
(direct disposal or partitioning and transmut ation). Activities will also be developed to 
enhance knowledge and improve the processi ng or conditioning of long-lived waste and 
basic research into actinides;
 
2) nuclear safety, in implementing research on existing as well as on new fuel cycles and on 
reactor safety of both western and Russian r eactor types as well as on new reactor design. 
In addition the JRC will contribute to, and c oordinate, the European contribution to the 
Generation IV International Forum R&D initiative, in which the best research 
organisations in the world are involved. The JRC should act as integrator of research in this 
area with the aim of ensuring the quality of the European contribu tion to GIF. The JRC 
will contribute exclusively to those areas that  can improve safety and safeguard aspects of 
innovative fuel cycles, in part icular characterisation, test a nd analysis of new fuels; the 
development of safety and quality goals, safety requirements and advanced evaluation 
methods for systems; 
L 400/80 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.12.2006 
 3) nuclear security, in supp orting the accomplishment of Community commitments, in 
particular the control of the fuel cycle facili ties emphasising the back-end of the fuel cycle, 
the monitoring of the radioactivity in the environment, or the implementation of the 
additional protocol and the inte grated safeguards, and the pr evention of the diversion of 
nuclear and radioactive material associated with illicit trafficking in such material. 
In addition, the JRC will facili tate fact-based debate and informed decision-making on the 
energy mix appropriate to meet the European ener gy needs (including renewable sources of energy 
and nuclear power). 
 
30.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 400/81 
 ANNEX II  
 
FUNDING SCHEMES 
Subject to the rules for participation establishe d for the implementation of the Seventh Framework 
Programme, the Community will support resear ch and technological development activities, 
including demonstration ac tivities in the specific programmes, through a range of funding schemes. 
These schemes will be used, either alone or in combination, to fund different categories of actions 
implemented throughout the Seventh Framework Programme. 
1. FUNDING SCHEMES IN FUSION ENERGY In the field of fusion energy resear ch, the particular nature of the activities in the area necessitates 
the implementation of specific arrangements. Fina ncial support will be give n to activities carried 
out on the basis of procedures set out in: 
1.1. the Contracts of Associa tion, between the Commission a nd Member States or fully 
associated third countries or entities w ithin Member States or fully associated 
third countries which provide for the ex ecution of part of the Community fusion 
energy research programme accordi ng to Article 10 of the Treaty; 
1.2. the European Fusion Development Agr eement (EFDA), a multi lateral agreement 
concluded between the Commissi on and organisations in, or ac ting for, Member States and 
associated third c ountries providing inter alia  the framework for further research on fusion 
technology in associated organi sations and in industry, use of the JET facilities and the 
European contribution to international cooperation; 
L 400/82 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.12.2006 
 1.3. the European Joint Undertaking for ITER , based on Articles 45 to 51 of the Treaty; 
1.4. international agreements between Euratom a nd third countries covering activities in the 
field of fusion energy research  and development, in particular the ITER Agreement; 
1.5. any other multilateral agreement conclude d between the Community and associated 
organisations, in particular the Agreement on Staff Mobility; 
1.6. cost-sharing actions to promote and contribut e to fusion energy resear ch with bodies in the 
Member States or the third countries associated with th e Seventh Framework Programme 
in which there is no Contract of Association.  
In addition to the above activitie s, actions to promote and devel op human resources, fellowships, 
integrated infrastructure init iatives as well as specific suppor t actions may be undertaken in 
particular to coordinate fusion energy research, to undertake studi es in support of these activities 
and to support publications, information exchange , and training in order to promote technology 
transfer. 
2. FUNDING SCHEMES IN OTHER FIELDS The activities in fields other than fusion energy under the Seventh Framework Programme will be 
funded through a range of funding schemes. These schemes will be used, either alone or in combination, to fund different categories of actions implemented th roughout the Seventh 
Framework Programme. 
30.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 400/83 
 The decisions for specific programmes, work pr ogrammes and calls for proposals will mention, as 
and when appropriate: 
– the type(s) of scheme(s) used to fund different categories of actions, 
– the categories of participants (such as resear ch organisations, univers ities, industry, public 
authorities) which can benefit from them, 
– the types of activities (research, developmen t, demonstration, training, dissemination, 
transfer of knowledge and ot her related activities) which can be funded through each of 
them. 
Where different funding schemes can be used, the work programmes may specify the funding 
scheme to be used for the t opic on which proposals are invited. 
The funding schemes are the following: 
(a) To support actions which are primarily impl emented on the basis of calls for proposals: 
 1. Collaborative projects 
Support to research projects carried out by c onsortia with participants from different 
countries, aiming at developing new knowledge, new technology, products or 
common resources for research. The size, scop e and internal organi sation of projects 
can vary from field to field and from topic to topic. Projects can range from small or 
medium-scale focused research actions to la rger integrating projects which mobilise 
a significant volume of resources  for achieving a defined objective.  
L 400/84 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.12.2006 
 2. Networks of excellence 
Support to joint research programmes im plemented by a number of research 
organisations integrating their activities in a given field, carried out by research 
teams in the framework of longer-term cooperation. The implementation of these 
joint research programmes will require a fo rmal commitment from the organisations 
integrating part of their re sources and their activities. 
3. Coordination and support actions 
Support to activities aimed at coordina ting or supporting research (networking, 
exchanges, studies, conferences, etc). Th ese actions may also be implemented by 
means other than calls for proposals. 
4. Actions to promote and develop human resources and mobility 
Support for training and career de velopment of researchers. 
(b) To support actions implemented on the ba sis of decisions by the Council, based on a 
proposal from the Commission, the Commun ity will provide financial support to 
multi-financed large-scale initiatives by the means of the following contributions: 
– a financial contribution to th e implementation of joint und ertakings carried out on the 
basis of the procedures a nd provisions set out in Artic les 45 to 51 of the Treaty, 
– a financial contribution to the development of new infr astructures of European 
interest. 
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 The Community will implement the funding scheme s in compliance with th e provisions of the 
Regulation to be adopted for the rules for part icipation of undertakings , research centres and 
universities, the relevant State ai d instruments, in particular the Community framework for State aid 
to research and development, as well as internati onal rules in this area. In compliance with this 
international framework, it will be necessary to be able to adjust the scale and form of financial 
participation on a case-by-case basis, in particul ar if funding from other pub lic sector sources is 
available, including other sources of Community financing such as  the European Investment Bank 
(EIB). 
In the case of participants to an indirect ac tion established in a regi on lagging in development 
(convergence regions1 and outermost regions), complementar y funding from the Structural Funds 
will be mobilised wherever possible and appropriate. 
3. DIRECT ACTIONS – JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE 
The Community will undertake activities implem ented by the JRC, which are referred to as 
direct actions. 
 
                                                 
1 Convergence regions are defi ned in Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 of 
11 July 2006 laying down gene ral provisions on the Europe an Regional Development Fund, 
the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund (OJ L 210, 31.7.2006, p. 25). This includes regions eligible for funding from the Structural Funds under the Convergence 
objective and regions eligible fo r funding from the Cohesion Fund.