COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMVIUNITIES 
COM(91)330 final 
Brussels, 18 September 1991 
Amended proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
on a specific research and technological development programme 
in the field of Nuclear Fission Safety 
(1991-1994) 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 149(3) 
of the EEC-Treaty) 

Modified Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific research and 
technological development programme in the Field of jyuclear F ission 
Safety (1991-1994] 
Explanatory Memorandum 
When examining the Commission proposa! for a spécifie research and technological development programme in the field of the environment U990-1Q9'4). the Ccuvnl decided that the Communitv expenditure deemed Mccessarv for carrvino out the programme should be raised from ECU 260 million to ECU 264. As a result, the amount available under the environment heading of the framework programme for the environment section of the JRC's next multinannual programme (1992-1994) is ECU 150 million instead of the ECU 154 million proposed by the Commission. 
Consequently and to ensure the general balance of measures under the third framework programme (1990-1994) between JRC measures, estimated at ECU 550 million, and cost-sharing measures, without exceeding the proposed funding, it is necessary to reduce bv ECU 4 million the Community expenditure deemed necessarv for carrving out the specific programme on nuclear fission safety and to raise from ECU i62 million to ECU 166 million the amount available for nuclear activities under the JRC's next multiannual programme. The ECU 4 million under the environment heading of the framework programme had originally been assigned to the JRC so as to be able to release an equivalent amount for cost-sharing measures on nuclear fission safetv. 
Independently of this budgetary aspect, the modified proposal for the 
SDecific programme "nuclear fission safety" takes into account the 
following factors: 
- The conclusions of 17 April 1991 of the Presidents of the three institutions concerning the specific researcn programmes of the 3rd Framework Programme 
- the amendments of the European Parliament that the Commission accepted 
on 12 July on the occasion of examining the initial proposal of the 
Commission 
- the conclusions of the deliberations of the Council on the occasion of 
examining the first five proposals for specific programmes of the 3rd 
Framework Programme. 
The adjustments thus effected modifv neither the objectives nor the technical content of the initial proposal of the Commission (COM(90)343). 
The Commission considers that by maintaining both the technical content of its proposal and the breakdown of expenditure between radiation protection and reactor safetv, it will be possible to maintain the consistency of its action. However, it acknowledges that the reduction in funds available will accentuate the necessity to obtain a reinforcement of the funds to be devoted to this action on the occasion of the revision of the 3rd Framework Programme. 
CONTENTS 
Page 
Modified proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific 
research and technological development programme 
in the field of Nuclear Fission Safety (1991-1994) 
ANNEX I 
Scientific and technical objectives and content 
ANNEX II 15 
Indicative breakdown of expenditures 
ANNEX III 16 
Rules for implementing the programme and activities 
for dissemination and exploitation of the results 
Modified proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
adopting a specific research and technological development programme in the field 
of Nuclear Fission Safety (1991-1994) 
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 Commission1, which has consulted the 
Scientific and Technical Committee, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament2, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee3, 
' O.J. No C 
' O.J. No C 
3 O.J. No C 
Whereas, by Decision 90/221/Euratom4EEC. the Council adopted a third framework 
programme for Community activities in the field of research and technological 
development (1990 - 1994), specifying inter alia the activities to be pursued in the 
area of nuclear fission safety; whereas this Decision should be taken in the light 
of the grounds set out in the preamble to that Decision; 
Whereas for activities falling under the AEEC Treaty, article 2 of the Decision 
90/221 /Euratom, EEC provides for the implementation of a third framework 
programme through programmes adopted in accordance with Article 7 of the said 
Treaty; 
Whereas the Joint Research Centre shall contribute through its own programme to 
the implementation of the aforesaid activities. 
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 57 million ecus for the centralized dissemination and exploitation of results, to 
be divided up in proportion to the amount envisaged for each specific programme. 
Whereas basic research in the field of nuclear fission safety must be encouraged 
throughout the Community; 
Whereas, in addition to the specific programme concerning human resources and 
mobility, it is necessary to encourage the training of research workers and 
engineers in the context of this programme; 
Whereas, in the context of this programme, an assessment should be made of 
economic and social impact as well as of any technological risks; 
4 O.J. L 117, 8.5.1990. p.28 
5 
Whereas Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC provides that a particular aim of Community 
research must be to strengthen the scientific and technological basis of European 
industry and to encourage it to become more competitive at the international level 
while maintaining high levels of safety; Whereas it also provides that Community 
action is justified where research contributes, Inter alia, to the strengthening of 
the economic and social cohesion of the Community and to the promotion of its 
overall harmonious development, while being consistent with the pursuit of 
scientific and technical excellence; whereas the present programme is looked upon 
as a contribution to the achievement of these objectives; 
Whereas the development of cooperation in matters of research and technological 
development with third countries notably with members of COST and Eastern 
European countries and with international organisations can prove particularly 
fruitful for the development of the present programme; 
Whereas it is necessary, as Annex II to Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC, provides, 
to foster a harmonized approach to nuclear fission safety in the Community, by 
bringing together all the parties involved, thus reinforcing the pre-normative 
dimension of research, namely in Radiation Protection and Reactor Safety, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION 
Article 1 
A specific research and technological development programme for the European 
Atomic Energy Community in the field of Nuclear Fission Safety, as defined in 
Annex I, is hereby adopted for a period beginning on and ending on 31 
December 1994. 
Article 2 
1. The funds estimated as necessary for the execution of the programme amount 
to ECU 32,67 million, including expenditure on staff and administration 
amounting to ECU 6,2 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 accordingly. 
Article 3 
Detailed rules for the implementation of the programme, including the amount of 
the Community's financial contribution, are set out in Annex III. 
7 
Article 4 
1. In the second year of implementation of the programme, the Commission shall 
review it and send a report on the results of its review to the European 
Parliament and the Council; the report shall be accompanied, where necessary, 
by proposals for amendment of the programme. 
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 sent 
to the European Parliament and the Council. 
3. The reports referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be established 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 
To assist the Commission in the implementation of the programme a Management 
and Coordination Committee for nuclear fission safety shall be established. 
Articles 2 to 6 of the Council Decision 84/338/EURAT0M/ECSC/EEC*i shall apply to 
that committee. 
'O.J. L 177. 4.7.1984. p.25 
8 
Article 6 
The Commission is authorized in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 
101 of the Treaty to negotiate the conclusion of international agreements with 
third countries participating in the COST partnership, especially EFTA countries 
and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, with a view to their partial or 
full involvement in the programme. 
Article 7 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States 
Done at Brussels, 
For the Council, 
The President. 
9 
ANNEX I 
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES AND CONTENT 
This specific programme fully reflects the approach embodied in the Third 
Framework Programme in terms of the scientific and technical goals and the 
underlying aims which it pursues. 
Paragraph 5B of Annex II of the Framework Programme forms an integral part of 
the present specific programme. It states that the general objective of the 
Community's technical, regulatory and research endeavours is to contribute 
towards the safe use of nuclear energy. These endeavours must therefore 
address the issue of safety as a whole, taking into consideration all aspects of 
nuclear power stations and the fuel cycle, including problems relating to the 
management of waste, radioactive and fissile materials, in particular plutonium, 
and the transport and storage thereof, the decommissioning of nuclear 
installations and risks of accidents entailing releases of radioactivity, while taking 
into account the programmes already approved and other related activities. 
The following presents an analytical description of the content of the programme, 
based on and taking account of the above elements. 
Area 1. Radiation Protection 
The aim is to provide the scientific knowledge for an objective assessment of 
radiation effects and risks as well as the methods to optimize radiation protection. 
Research will be carried out to define the extent of exposure and the ways in 
which it can occur from natural, medical and industrial sources, study the health 
consequences including the treatment of over-exposure, and assess, in a 
comparative and quantitative way, the risks which radiation can pose to man and 
his environment. 
The scientific knowledge obtained by this action is a prerequisite for the 
continued updating of the "Basic Safety Standards for the Health Protection of the 
10 
General Public and Workers against the Dangers of Ionizing Radiation" * and will 
provide the scientific background for the continued evolution of radiation 
protection concepts and practices. It is also aimed at maintaining and enhancing 
both the technical and regulatory aspects of expertise in radiation protection and 
will enable the relevant authorities to evaluate the impact of long-term choices in 
energy policy on man and his environment, to manage normal operations, 
emergency situations and the disposal of waste, and to inform the public 
objectively about the risks and benefits of radiation. A study will be made of the 
problems of decommissioning both radioactivity containment systems under severe 
accident conditions and facilities where no serious accidents have occurred during 
operation. 
Issues related to concerns about radiation and its effects, heightened by the 
accident at Chernobyl and by more recent information on risk estimates and on the 
extent of exposure from natural, medical and industrial sources will be addressed. 
Research will aim within an increasingly complex environment, at reducing the 
uncertainties related to the evaluation of risks at low doses/low dose rates by 
combining the information obtained from a variety of experimental approaches with 
that from epidemiology. 
An assessment of the risks related to radon in homes will aim at the development 
of effective and durable countermeasures to reduce population exposure; a draft 
list will be produced of materials and their use in building and the identification 
of geographical risk areas. Research on optimizing procedures will be carried out 
in order to reduce patient exposure from medical diagnostic radiology. Management 
procedures based on improved scientific information will be developed to optimise 
radiological protection in the work place. 
Scientific procedures will be developed to allow the consequences of nuclear 
emergencies to be assessed in real-time and their management to be improved thus 
enabling the most effective countermeasures to be taken, to reduce transfer of 
radioactive contamination to man, and to treat victims of radiation accidents. 
O.J. L 246, 17.9.1980, p.1 
O.J. L 265. 5.10.1984, p.4 
11 
The solution of the complex problems involved requires that information from quite 
different subject areas be integrated in a multi-disciplinary approach in which 
the following themes will be addressed: 
Human Exposure to Radiation and Radioactivity 
The objective is to develop the ways and means to measure radiation doses in a 
sensitive and reliable way, and to define the critical pathways of radioactivity in 
the environment and possible strategies to impede the transfer of radionuclides 
to man. 
The measurement of radiation doses and their interpretation will be improved by 
implementing the new dosimetric quantities and by developing better procedures 
and instrumentation for personal and accident dosimetry. Particular attention will 
be paid to exposure from incorporated radionuclides. 
The behaviour of radionuclides in the environment will be studied focusing on 
natural and long-lived artificial radionuclides which can accumulate in natural or 
semi-natural ecosystems or undergo chemical and biological modifications. In 
addition, countermeasures to reduce the consequences of radioactive 
contamination to the environment and man will be investigated. 
Consequences of Radiation Exposure to Man: their Assessment, Prevention and 
Treatment 
The objective is to determine quantitatively effects occurring at low doses/low 
dose rates (stochastic effects of radiation), to develop means to recognize and 
treat consequences of radiation accidents (non-stochastic effects) and to assess 
effects on the developing organism. 
A concerted approach based on microdosimetrv. biophysical modelling, molecular, 
cellular and animal studies and epidemiology will be undertaken to understand the 
mechanisms involved and to evaluate the risks of radiation-induced cancer and 
genetic damage in man on the basis of sampling and epidemiological studies 
12 
conducted in similar areas. 
This will lend crucial support to the interpretation of human epidemiological data 
and to their extrapolation to low doses/low dose rates. 
Diagnosis and treatment of consequences of accidents involving whole-body or 
local external exposure, or internal contamination with radionuclides will be 
improved by studying their pathogenesis and making use of new molecular and 
cellular techniques. 
Investigations on the developing organism will focus on brain damage after 
irradiation in utero, on the induction of radiation-induced cancer and on the 
transfer of radionuclides in the foetus and during infancy and childhood. 
Risks and Management of Radiation Exposure 
The objective is to evaluate the overall risks of human exposure to radiation and 
to provide the methods for optimizing and managing radiation protection under 
normal and accident situations. 
Systematic information on human exposure from natural, medical and industrial 
sources will be collected, and emphasis will be placed on epidemiological studies, 
including those in persons exposed at the workplace or to enhanced natural 
radioactivity. The factors affecting population radon exposure in homes and 
possible countermeasures will be investigated. Radiation risks will be put into 
perspective by comparing them with other risks. 
Optimization of radiation protection in normal and accident situations will be 
investigated to conform with new protection standards. Radiation accident 
consequence models and emergency management procedures will be further 
developed. Optimization of medical diagnostic exposure will be achieved by 
developing quality assurance measures for image quality and analyzing the risks 
and benefits of different procedures. 
13 
Area 2. Reactor Safety 
The overall objective of this new activity is to contribute to the definition of what 
will be needed to satisfy the expected safety requirements for future generations 
of nuclear power plants and to improve confidence in safety analyses, through an 
exercise promoting the concertation of parties from all Member States of the 
Community, independent of whether or not they have a nuclear power programme. 
The work envisaged will contribute to the assessment of the safety margins 
associated with design and operation, and to building confidence in the 
completeness of safety analyses and the reliability of the components involved in 
accident management. It will provide a reference point for initiatives in the 
Community and a basis for possible, more extensive Community actions. 
Selected key safety issues related to future nuclear power plants will be 
addressed, paying particular attention to passive technology. Work will focus also 
on the safe containment of radioactivity under severe accident conditions, and, 
will mainly consider existing light water reactors which are more widespread in 
the Community, other European countries and the rest of the world. Moreover, 
there will be some participation, from the point of view of design safety, in new 
types of reactors, ie those in the development stage or those planned for the 
future, which are likely to be constructed between now and the end of the 
century. 
The action at Community level will include studies, inter-comparisons of methods 
and tools, such as Probabilistic Safety Analyses, the validation of codes by 
experimental results, and joint evaluations of research and development work. 
After considering the potential challenges to confinement in case of severe 
accidents and their implications on containment performance, the key issues will 
be addressed under the following three main themes: 
14 
Accident Progression Anaiysis 
Severe accident phenomenology and its implications for containment will be 
studied with respect to in vessel phenomena related to containment loading and 
to ex vessel phenomena. The latter will deal, in particular, with hydrogen related 
phenomena and their modelling, detection and control; fission product behaviour; 
coolability of corium, steam explosion and corium-concrete interaction. 
Beha viour and Qualification of the Containment System 
Research will deal with the integrity of the containment system (venting, seismic 
and other external events, degradation of leak tightness due to ageing), modelling 
and failure mode analyses (material and structure behaviour, e.g. prestressed 
concrete), and the qualification and safety margins of containment structures, 
equipment and electronic systems with regard to severe accidents. 
Accident Management and Controi 
Research will concentrate on the man-machine interface (computer based aids for 
operators handling complex procedures and novel situations: e.g. recognition of 
abnormalities and their diagnosis, and handling of incomplete or misleading 
information), and on strategies for intervention and accident mitigation. 
15 
ANNEX II 
INDICATIVE BREAKDOWN OF EXPENDITURES 
AREA DISTRIBUTION (in %) 
of 32.67 MECU (1) (2) 
Area 1. Radiation protection 78 - 79 
Area 2. Reactor safety 21 - 22 
The breakdown between different areas does not exclude the possibility that 
projects could cover several areas. 
(1) At least 15% of the total will be allocated to basic research and 2% to 
training. 
(2) An additional ECU 166 million will be earmarked for JRC research activities 
on nuclear fission safety, including ECU 1,6 million representing the JRC's 
contribution to centralized dissemination activities under the present 
specific programme. 
A sum of ECU 0.33 million, not included in the ECU 32,67 million, will be 
earmarked as the contribution from the specific "nuclear fission safety" 
programme to the centralized scheme for the dissemination and exploitation 
of results. 
16 
ANNEX III 
RULES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAMME AND 
ACTIVITIES FOR DISSEMINATION AND EXPLOITATION OF THE RESULTS 
1. The Commission will implement the programme on the basis of the scientific and 
technical content described in Annex I. 
2. The rules for implementing the programme, referred to in Article 3, comprise 
research and technological development projects, accompanying measures and 
concerted actions. 
- Research projects 
The projects will be the subject of shared-cost research and technological 
development contracts. Selection of projects must take account of the 
criteria listed in Annex III to Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC and of the 
objectives set out in Annex I to this programme. 
For shared-cost projects Community financial participation will not normally 
be more than 50%. Universities and other research centres participating in 
shared-cost projects will have the option of requesting, for each project, 
either 50% funding of total expenditure or 100% funding of the additional 
marginal costs. 
Shared-cost research projects must, be carried out by participants 
established within the Community. Projects in which for example 
universities, research organizations and industrial firms, including small 
and medium-sized undertakings, may participate must, as general rule, 
provide for the participation of at least two partners, the one being 
independent of the other and established in a different Member State. 
Contracts relating to shared-cost research projects must as a general rule 
be concluded following a selection procedure based on calls for proposals 
published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. 
17 
The Commission will publish a vade-mecum setting out all the rules applying 
to the selection of projects, in order to guarantee full transparency. 
Accompanying measures 
The accompanying measures will consist of : 
The organization of seminars, workshops and scientific conferences, 
internal coordination through the creation of integrating groups, 
advanced technology training programmes, with emphasis being placed 
on multidisciplinarity, 
promotion of the exploitation of results, 
independent scientific and strategic evaluation of the operation of the 
projects and the programme. 
Concerted actions 
Concerted actions consist of action by the Commission to coordinate the 
individual research activities carried out in the Member States. They may 
benefit from funding of up to 100% of coordinating expenditure. 
3. The knowledge acquired in the course of the projects will be disseminated 
both within the specific programme and by means of centralized activity, 
pursuant to the Decision referred to in the third subparagraph of Article 4 of 
Decision 90/221/Euratom, EEC. 
18 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 
1. BUDGET HEADING AND TITLE 
Part B of the general budget 
Subsection 5, Item 2 
Specific programme of Community RTD activities in the field of nuclear fission 
safety 1991-1994. 
2. LEGAL BASE 
Article 7 of the Treaty establishing the EAEC. 
3. OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION 
See Annex I of the proposal. 
4. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
Amounts deemed necessary in MIO ECU : 
Programme implementation 32.67 
Centralised action for dissemination and exploitation 0.33 
TOTAL 3 3 ' 
The indicative operational breakdown of the 32.67 MIO ECL for the programme 
implementation is given in Annex II of the proposal. 
'excluding JRC artivities (lb6 MIO ECD 
19 
Indicative multiannual schedule (in MIO ECU) 
1991 1992 1993 19942 TOTAL 
Commitments 1,545 24.195 6.93 0 
32,67 
Payments 0.891 5.470 15.309 11 32,67 
The definitive yearly amounts will be determined by the budgetary authority 
in accordance with the financial perspectives for the period 1990-1992 
(annexed to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 June 1984) and with 
subsequent financial perspectives which may be adopted for 1993 and 1994. 
5. STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE 
In Addition to the principal means of action which are contracts (annex III) 
the above amounts include programme-related staff and administrative 
expenditure estimated at no more than 6,2 MIO ECU. 
The expenditure on staff will not exceed 19% of the amount deemed necessary 
for the programme implementation. This implies a maximum of 25 statutory-
posts <A. B and/or C) at any given time during the life of the programme. 
The infrastructure costs related to statutorv staff will be borne by Part A 
of the budget. 
6. IMPLICATIONS FOR REVENUE 
The contributions by third countrv contractors towards the cost of 
administration of the programme will be reused pursuant to articles 27.2 and 
(^6 of the Financial Regulation1. 
'"for the pavmont appropriations : ico4 anc' bevor-d 
2 0 
7. TYPES OF CONTROL 
Control will be exercised by: 
the services of the DC responsible for the execution of the programme, 
advised by the management and coordination committee refered to in article 
6 
the Commission's Financial Controller. 
In accordance with Article 2 of the Financial Regulation3, the use of 
appropriations will be subject to analyses of cost-effectiveness and the 
realisation of quantified objectives will be monitored. 
External audit may be carried out by the Court of Auditors in accordance with 
the Treaty. 
' Financial Régula: ioj; of 2i December Iu';/. as ias; amended by Regulation 
oIO.^O of Marr»; <">')0. 
2 1 
STATEMENT OF IMPACT ON COMPETITIVENESS AND EMPLOYMENT 
1• The mainr eason for introducing the measure 
The Programme aims to foster a harmonized approach to safety by bringing 
together all the parties involved thus reinforcing the pre-normative 
dimension of research. The present proposal consists of two areas: 
- Radiation Protection, 
- Reactor Safety. 
2. Features of the businesses in question 
The programme is essentially a research and technical development programme 
aiming to improve radiation protection and reactor safety. It addresses 
itself mainly to research institutions, universities and businesses involved 
in the nuclear field. 
3. Obligations imposed directly on businesses 
The same obligations are imposed on all institutions participating in the 
programme including: conformity of the proposed research with the technical 
annex of the project, transnational co-operation, free site-access to 
Commission agents, participation in seminars and meeting of contractors 
organized by the Commission, and annual reports of activities and results. 
4• Indirect obligations likelv to be imposed on business bv national. 
regional or local authorities 
None are envisaged 
*> • Special provisions in respect of SMEs 
The proposal will have no direct implications for small and r;edium 
enterprises. However, some of the expected actions mav load *.-„ the 
development of specific i ns t ruriu-M at i c:. wh:'':. roij/: l>f ;,rnc;; .--; !>\ •-. :::a[! ,md 
mod j imi cut <••;-,•>!' i '-•("-
22 
6. Likely effects on : 
a) The competitiveness of business 
This research programme will have no direct immediate effect on 
competitiveness. Harmonized approaches in nuclear safety, the final goal of 
the research and technical development, constitute, however, a prerequisite 
for an open market in the nuclear industry. 
b) Employment 
As the research is precompetitive. and to a large extent long-term research 
and is not specifically aimed at industry, the impact on employment is 
impossible to evaluate with any degree of confidence. 
There is certainly a positive effect on the maintenance and recruitment of 
research staff directly involved in projects funded by the programme. 
7. Consultation of representative organisations 
The Scientific and Technical Committee which includes high level 
representatives of the nuclear industry nas expressed a positive opinion on 
the proposal. 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(91) 330 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 15 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-91-381-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-75580-6 
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