No C 166/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 6. 84 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a programme on the management and storage 
of radioactive waste (1985 to 1989) 
COM(84) 231 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 3 May 1984) 
(84/C 166/05) 
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 submitted by the 
Commission after consulting the Scientific and 
Technical Committee, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par­
liament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas the use of nuclear energy inevitably involves 
the production of radioactive waste; whereas it is 
therefore essential to implement effective solutions to 
guarantee the safety and protection of populations 
and the environment against the potential risks 
associated with the management of such waste; 
Whereas the programme of action of the European 
Communities on the environment, which was 
approved by the Council of the European 
Communities and the representatives of the 
Governments of the Member States meeting in the 
Council in the Declaration of 22 November 1973 (l), 
and of which the continuation of implementation is 
contained in the resolutions of 17 May 1977 (2) and 
of 7 February 1983 (3), underlines the need for 
Community action on the handling and storage of 
radioactive waste, and specifies the content of and 
procedures for implementing such action; Whereas, by its resolution of 18 February 1980 (4) on 
the implementation of a Community plan of action 
(1980 to 1992) in the field of radioactive waste, the 
Council is resolved to ensure the continuity of the 
R&D programmes during the plan; 
Whereas the Council resolution of 25 July 1983 (5) on 
the framework programmes of research, development 
and demonstration Community activities and on the 
first framework programme (1984 to 1987) includes 
the development of the fission nuclear energy among 
the scientific and technical objectives for 1984 to 
1987; 
Whereas the programme on the management and 
storage of radioactive waste adopted by Decision of 
18 March 1980 (6) has facilitated the acquisition of a 
large amount of information which it is advisable to 
complete and validate by the implementation of 
research, development and demonstration actions 
representing the real waste management and storage 
conditions which can be expected in the future, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
A programme on the management and storage of 
radioactive waste, as defined in the Annex hereto, is 
hereby adopted for a five-year period beginning on 
1 January 1985. 
Article 2 
The expenditure commitments necessary to 
implement the programme, including the expenditure 
commitments for a staff of 15, are estimated at 92 
million ECU. 
(') OJNoC 112,20. 12. 1973. 
(2) OJ No C 139, 13. 6. 1977. 
(3) OJ No C 46, 17. 2. 1983. (4) OJNoC 51, 29.2. 1980. 
(') OJ No C 208, 4. 8. 1983. 
(*) OJ No L 78, 25. 3. 1980. 
26.6. 84 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 166/5 
Article 3 Article 4 
The programme shall be reviewed at the end of the In the implementation of this programme, the 
second year in accordance with the appropriate Commission shall be assisted by the Advisory 
procedures. This review may lead to the addition of Committee on Management and Coordination for 
new projects on underground facilities. Nuclear Fission, the terms of reference and 
composition of which were defined in the Council 
resolution of ... . 
ANNEX 
The programme is aimed at jointly perfecting and demonstrating a management system of the radio­
active waste produced by the nuclear industry ensuring, at the various stages, the best possible 
protection of man and environment. 
The programme will cover: 
A. Waste-management studies and associated R&D actions. 
Task 1: system studies. 
Task 2: improvement of waste treatment and conditioning technologies. 
Task 3: evaluation of conditioned waste and qualification of engineered barriers. 
Task 4: research in support of the development of disposal facilities; shallow burial and 
geological disposal studies. 
Task 5: safety of geological disposal. 
Task 6: joint elaboration of radioactive waste-management policies. 
B. Construction and/or operation of underground facilities open to Community joint activities 
(initially for the three projects listed below, but taking into account that additional proposals are 
likely). 
Project 1: pilot underground facility in the Asse salt mine. 
Project 2: pilot underground facility in the argillaceous layer located under the Mol nuclear site. 
Project 3: experimental underground facility in France in a geological medium of 
complementary nature. 
The work described in A and B will be carried out mainly under contract.