10. 6. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 144/11 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific research and technical development 
programme for the European Atomic Energy Community in the field of management and 
storage of radioactive waste 
(1990 to 1994) 
COM(89) 226 final 
(Submitted by the Commission on 18 May 1989) 
(89/C 144/13) 
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 Commission, 
presented after consulting the Scientific and Technical 
Committee, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
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 man and the environment 
against the potential risks associated with the 
management of such waste; 
Whereas the fourth European Communities' action 
programme on the environment, which was the subject 
of the Resolution of 19 October 1987 (') of the Council 
and the Representatives of the Governments of the 
Member States meeting in the Council, underlines the 
need to pursue Community action on the handling and 
storage of radioactive waste; 
Whereas, by its Resolution of 18 February 1980 (2) on 
the implementation of a Community plan of action (1980 
to 1992) in the field of radioactive waste, the Council 
resolved to ensure the continuity of the R&D 
programmes in this sphere during the plan; 
(') OJ No C 328, 7. 12. 1987. 
(2) OJ No C 51, 29. 2. 1980, p. 1. Whereas the Council, by adopting the framework 
programme of Community research and technological 
development (1987 to 1991) (3), acknowledges the 
interest of an activity 'Fission: nuclear safety' which 
includes an R & TD area 'radioactive waste 
management'; 
Whereas the programme on the management and storage 
of radioactive waste adopted by Decision 85/199 
Euratom (4) has yielded positive results and opened up 
encouraging prospects which it is advisable to complete 
and confirm by the implementation of research, devel­
opment and demonstration actions representing the real 
waste management and storage conditions which can be 
expected in the future; 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
A research and technological development programme 
for the European Atomic Energy Community in the field 
of management and storage of radioactive waste as 
defined in the Annex, is hereby adopted for a period of 
five years, from 1 January 1990. 
Article 2 
The funds estimated necessary for the execution of the 
programme amount to ECU 79,6 million (= MECU) 
including expenditure on a staff of 14. 
Article 3 
Detailed rules for the implementation of the programme 
and the rate of the Community's financial participation 
are set out in the Annex. 
(3) OJ No L 302, 24. 10. 1987, p. 1. 
(4) OJ No L 83, 25. 3. 1985, p. 20. 
No C 144/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 6. 89 
Article 4 
1. During the third year of implementation, the 
Commission shall review the programme and send a 
report on the results of its review to the Council, the 
European Parliament and the Economic and Social 
Committee. This report shall be accompanied where 
necessary by proposals for the amendment or extension 
of the programme. 
2. At the end of the programme, an evaluation of the 
results achieved shall be conducted by the Commission 
which shall report thereon to the Council, the European 
Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee. 
3. The abovementioned reports shall be established 
having regard to the objectives set out in the Annex to 
this Decision and in accordance with the provisions of 
ANNEX 
1. Programme contents and allocation of funding 
The programme is aimed at perfectioning and demonstrating a system for managing the radioactive waste 
produced by the nuclear industry ensuring, at the various stages, the best possible protection of man and 
environment. 
The programme will cover: 
PART A 
Waste management and associated R&D actions 
— Task 1: system studies and harmonization of waste management practices and policies 
— Task 2: treatment of radioactive waste 
— Task 3: characterization and qualification of waste forms, packages and their environment 
— Task 4: radioactive waste disposal; research in support of the development of underground 
repositories 
— Task 5: safety assessment 
PART B 
Construction and/or operation of underground facilities open to Community joint activities 
— Project 1: pilot underground facility in the Asse salt mine in the Federal Republic of Germany 
— Project 2: pilot underground facility in the argillaceous layer under the Mol nuclear site in Belgium 
— Project 3: underground validation facility in France 
— Projcet 4: underground validation facility in the United Kingdom 
In addition to the above projects, others could be added in the course of the programme. 
From the total budget about 70 % is intended to be allocated to part A and the remaining 30 % to part B. Article 2 (2) of the framework programme set out in 
Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC. 
Article 5 
For the implementation of the programme, the 
Commission shall be assisted by the Management and 
Coordination Advisory Committee CGC6 'Nuclear 
fission energy — Fuel cycle/processing and storage of 
waste' set up by Council Decision 84/338/Euratom, 
ECSC, EEC (l). 
Article 6 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
(') OJ No L 177, 4. 7. 1984, p. 25. 
10. 6. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 144/13 
2. Implementation of the programme 
The implementation of the programme shall be done mainly through shared-cost contracts with competent 
public organizations or private firms, including small and medium-sized enterprises, within the Member 
States. 
In addition to shared-cost research contracts, the programme may also be carried out by means of study 
contracts, coordination projects and awards of training and mobility grants. Such contracts and grants 
shall, where appropriate, be awarded following a selection procedure based on calls for proposals published 
in the Official Journal of the European Communities. 
The Community's contribution will not normally exceed 50 % of the total allowable costs of the project. 
Alternatively, in respect of universities and similar organizations, the Community may bear up to 100 % of 
the marginal costs which are additional to the normal recurrent costs without the execution of the project. 
Specific coordinated research projects already launched in the previous programme will be continued in 
order to promote and intensify cooperation between teams in the various Member States. In particular 
international cooperation within the projects in Part B (underground facilities) will be promoted. 
The information resulting from the implementation of the shared-cost activities shall be made accessible on 
an equal basis to all Member States. Licences and/or other rights developed in the framework of the 
programme will be subject to the normal contractual conditions of the Community. 
3. Evaluation criteria 
The programme is to be evaluated by independent experts in accordance with the Community plan of 
action relating to the evaluation of Community research and development activities ('). The following 
criteria are to be considered in the evaluation: 
— the extent to which research proposals were selected against relevant criteria, 
— the extent to which substantial development of knowledge, techniques and equipment has resulted from 
the work supported, taking into account the original objectives, 
— the potential relevance of the results with regard to safety and protection aspects and in particular with 
regard to radioactive waste disposal, 
— the potential relevance of the results with regard to radioactive waste management and disposal at 
industrial scale, 
— the extent to which information exchange and cooperation across the borders of Member States have 
been promoted, 
— the programmes' contribution to the development of Community policies in the field. 
(') COM(86) 660 final.