31. 12. 81 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 348/5 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a research and training 
programme (1982 to 1986) in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion 
The text referred to the Committee has not yet been published in the Official Journal of 
the European Communities. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 3 August 1981 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Articles 00 and 00 of the Treaty establishing 
the European Atomic Energy Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
192nd plenary session held in Brussels on 25 and 26 November 1981. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Atomic Energy Community, and in 
particular Article 7 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 3 August 1981 for an 
opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision 
adopting a research and training programme (1982 to 
1986) in the field of controlled thermonuclear 
fusion, 
Having regard to the decision taken by the Bureau of 
the Economic and Social Committee on 22 
September 1981, instructing the Section for Energy 
and Nuclear Questions to draw up an opinion and 
report on this matter, 
Having regard to the opinion adopted by the 
abovementioned Section at its 66th meeting, held on 
6 November 1981, 
Having regard to the oral report made by the 
rapporteur, Mr von der Decken, at this meeting, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 192nd plenary 
session, held on 25 and 26 November 1981 (meeting 
of 25 November 1981), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: The Committee welcomes and supports the 
Commission's proposal. It would make the following 
comments: 
1. As it has already stated in previous opinions ('), 
the Committee is of the view that thermonuclear 
fusion is an extremely important potential source of 
energy and a major effort by the Community to 
develop this form of energy is therefore necessary 
and justified. 
2. The Committee regards the development of 
thermonuclear fusion as an outstanding example of 
European cooperation. All the principal projects of 
the EEC Member States in this field are linked to the 
Community programme and are coordinated. In the 
Committee's opinion the advantage of this joint 
approach can be seen in the results obtained, 
especially during the first three years of the last five-
year programme (1979 to 1983). 
3. The Committee is pleased to note that the 'sliding 
programme' system has clearly proved its worth. 
Substantial progress has been made in the first three 
years of the current programme and this forms the 
basis for a review and reorientation of the 
programme; indeed it makes such a review 
necessary. 
(') OJ No C331, 17.12. 1980 and OJ No C 171, 9.7. 
1979. 
No C 348/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 81 
4. The Committee regards the proposed 
programme as very clear, logical, apposite and 
commensurate with the importance of thermonuclear 
fusion. In this, the Committee's views concur with 
those of the Fusion Programme Review Panel. 
5. The estimates for expenditure and staffing seem 
reasonable to the Committee, considering the aims 
and size of the programme and comparable projects 
elsewhere. 
6. Compared with the last five-year programme 
(1979 to 1983) there is however an increase of 30 % in 
real terms. Although, as it has already said, the 
Committee regards this as quite reasonable, it would 
like to know how the Commission intends to raise 
these funds. As the amount involved represents a not 
unsubstantial proportion of the R&D budget, this 
new programme would, in the Committee's view, 
necessitate a corresponding increase in the total 
Community R&D budget in order to avoid a 
considerable scaling down of the other R&D 
programmes. Before any final decision is taken the 
Committee would like to see an overall plan 
submitted to the Commission clarifying these 
budgetary questions. 
7. Considering the present state of knowledge, the 
Committee regards the organization of the 
programme as logical, i.e. to concentrate on one 
line of development for thermonuclear fusion 
(Tokamak), to continue limited work (10 %) on two 
carefully selected alternative lines (Stellarator and 
Reverse Field Pinch), and merely to monitor and 
cooperate internationally on the other alternatives. 
This is possible because international cooperation in 
the field of thermonuclear fusion functions very 
well. 
8. In view of the extremely long preparatory 
periods required, it would seem sensible and logical 
to the Committee to embark right now on the 
conceptual work in preparation for the next step after 
JET, the NET project. Obviously such a step is a 
necessary precondition for a DEMO device. There 
are overriding grounds for this work on NET, i.e. any 
European Next Step should tie in with and 
complement the collaboration on the international 
Next Step INTOR. 
9. In its opinion on the last R&D programme 
(1979 to 1983) the Committee stated that greater 
emphasis should be placed on the technological 
aspects of development. A substantial part of the new 
programme is devoted to technological questions, i.e. 
materials technology, tritium technology, 
superconducting magnet technology, blanket 
technology and remote maintenance. The Committee considers that tritium technology is a particularly 
important component of the Community 
programme, since such work is subject to secrecy in 
some national programmes and is particularly 
relevant to the question of safety. 
Planning the technology programme according to the 
needs of the Next Step NET should be very helpful in 
formulating specific development projects. 
10. The Committee would again point to the need 
for safety and environmental questions to be studied 
at an early stage. 
11. The Committee would reaffirm the views 
already expressed in its opinion on earlier 
programmes: 'The Committee considers that it is 
absolutely essential at the present juncture to inform 
the general public in full about the possibilities and 
problems of nuclear fusion. It must be spelt out that 
nuclear fusion could only contribute to energy 
supplies in the long term and that it will not 
necessarily be a "clean" energy source. Even if we 
assume that fusion can have significant advantages 
over fission from the safety and environmental 
angles, the problems associated with fusion 
technology must be exposed and discussed openly 
here and now to prevent any distrust from the 
outset'^). 
12. In its opinion on the last R&D programme the 
Committee referred to the need for very close liaison 
between the JET programme and the general fusion 
programme. The Committee welcomes the fact that, 
by reducing the consultative machinery to a single 
Fusion Programme Review Panel (CCFP), the 
Commission has created the administrative 
conditions for very close cooperation throughout the 
whole programme. There has clearly been a marked 
improvement in cooperation. In the Committee's 
view, however, close attention will still have to be 
paid to this aspect. 
13. The exchange of staff between the various 
laboratories is one way of using the available staff 
and expertise to good effect and of improving the 
transfer of scientific and technical know-how. The 
Committee also feels that such exchanges are an 
important and effective means of fostering solidarity 
within the Community. The Committee therefore 
welcomes the proposed increase in the mobility fund 
and would urge the Commission to continue 
encouraging the exchange of staff wherever 
appropriate. 
(!) OJ NoC 171,9.7. 1979. 
31. 12.81 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 348/7 
14. The problem of the continuing increase in the 
average age of staff, to which the Commission also 
alludes, occurs with all new technologies which 
require a long development period. There is certainly no ideal solution to this problem. One can only — but 
this is extremely important — continue trying, 
through personnel policy, to alleviate the problem. 
Done at Brussels, 25 November 1981. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE