ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (77)397
V ol.1977/0130

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COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(77)397 final
Brüssels,24August1977
COMMUNICATION FROMTHECOMMISSION TOTHECOUNCIL
ONACOMMUNITY PLANOFACTIONINTHEFIELDOFRADIOACTIVE WASTES
hlé
*
C0M(77)397final

Introductory comment
Inits memorandum tothe Council of13May 1977 entitled "The
*
Community andthe international nuclear environment*' the Commission
announced its intention toaddress tothe Council atalater date
some additional memoranda concerning /inparticular ,lines tobe.
followed bythe Community with regard tothe reprocessing ,the
storage ofradioactive waste ,and the introduction offast reactors
inthe Community .
This memorandum puts forward some possible lines tobepursued by
the Community with regard toradioactive waste .
*
X *
C0PK77 )163 final

COMMUNICATION FROMTHECOMMISSION TOTHECOUNCIL
ONACOMMUNITY PLANOFACTIONINTHEFIELDOF
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
Introduction
Thedevelopment ofnuclearenergyshouldenabletheCommunitytomeetan
increasingproportionofitselectricity needs,whileatthesametime
ensuringdependability oftheCommunity'ssuppliesbydiversifying its
sourcesoffuel.
Likethemajorityoflargeindustriesthenuclearindustrygenerates
1by-products,someofwhichareusefulandcanberecovered.However,
thereareotherby-products whicharenotusefulandandtheseinclude
awiderangeofwastes.
Thesewastesareradioactive,andtheirradioactivity andresultant
harmfulness,togetherwiththetimeneededforthisharmfulness to
2disappear,dependontheradioactive elementswhichtheycontain.
Thevolumeofby-productsisrelatively lowinrelationtoeachunitof
energyfedintotheelectricity supplynetworks.
Ithasthereforebeenpossible,uptothepresenttime,tocopefairly
satisfactorily theproblemsraisedbytheirexistence.However,the
foreseeable increaseinthegenerationofelectricity fromnuclear
energyintheCommunityduringthenextfewdecadeshasaddedanew
dimensiontotheproblem,asisshowninthefollowingtable.The
dataassumesanexpansionofreprocessing intheCommunity (CfDoc.
C0M<77)331-PointsforaCommunitystrategyonthereprocessing of
irradiatedfuels-13July1977)):
Intheformoffuel,afterrecoverybyreprocessing theirradiated
fuels;alsoassourcesofradiationtherapeutic purposesetc.
2Inotherwords;thattheyriolongerhaveanyradiological effects
ontheenvironmentwithinthemeaningofthehealthprotectionrules
intheMemberStates,laiddowninconformitywiththeCommunity's
radiationprotection standards(Euratom).

-2-
Estimate ofquantities ofradioactive by-products accumulated
from 1975 to1980.1990 and 2000 forallofthe Community
-high-activity
and long-lived
by-products
-low-activity •processed some tens some oraer OT
by-products waste •f-nnn _3 hundreds ■*onemillionot iuuu m of -Jooo in
The low-activity wastes constitute the bulk ofthe volume produced ;
the treatment techniques arewell known ;their controlled storage ,during
which the harmfulness ofthe waste dies away,does not pose any -parti cular
technical difficulties andisawell-proven operation .
The highly active andlong-lived by-products (some thousands tohundreds
ofthousands ofyears ),which account for afar lower volume ,constitute
the main radioactive waste problem :they have tobetreated andthen
stored away from the biosphere for very long periods ("final "storage );
these by-products are made up,forthe most part ,ofhighly active wastes
which result from the reprocessing operations ;when such operations are
not enployed -either bychoice orbecause ofadelay inthe commissioning
ofreprocessing plants -the by-products arethe used fuel elements
themselves .The final storaqe ofthese products will cause new problems ,
few ofwhich ,have been investigated todate .1980 1990 2000
solidif ied
waste
used fuel
elements
waiting for
reprocessing
processed
wasteless than
100 m3
2000 tonnes
uranium
contained
some tens
*3
of 1000 m"approximately
20000 m3some
thousands
,3of m
10000 to
15000 tonnes
uranium
contained
some order of
hundreds 3onemillion m
of 1000 m
This estimate can only indicate orders ofmagnitude because the actual
production depends ontheoperation ofthenuclear power plants ,the
commission dates ofthereprocessing plants ,the volume reduction
factors achieved bythe waste treatment technologies ,etc.
This volume remains small compared towastes produced byaconventionalelectricity station where the ashproduction (inthe case ofacoal-
fired plant )isaround 400 times asgreat .

-3-
However ,various processes for the treatment ofhigh-activity waste exist
atthepilot stage inthe Community (vitrification inparticular )and
their industrial development isbeing studied .Astothe matter of
storage ,asolution will have tobefound forthe long-term isolation of
waste from the biosphere .
Some promising solutions are being studied (storage ofwaste insuitable
geological formations )and insome cases pilot facilities have already
been built (for example :experimental storage insalt formations ); long-
term experimental verification isstill necessary ,however ,before
irreversible decisions are taken in'this area .
Theessential aim ofapolicy for the management and storage ofradioactive
waste istoensure the safety ofthe population andtheprotection ofthe
environment anditwould bedangerous tolimit the problem tothe technical
questions .
The problem ishighly complex andinextricably linked with the updating
ofacquired technologies ,with industrial development and with legal ,
administrative andfinancial questions ,all ofwhich must besolved in
order toguarantee the required level ofsafety forthepublic inthe
Community andtheprotection ofthe environment .
This problem -which creates anxieties among thegeneral public -is
today one ofthe major problems underlying thedifficulties currently
encountered inthe development ofnuclear energy *

-4-
II.Necessity for Community action –aplan ofaction
Inrecent years thevarious Community institutions have recognized the need
for Community action onradioactive wastes .
On14May 1973,theCouncil approved aJRC multi annual research programme
including studies onradioactive waste andsubsequently on22November 1973,
approved theprinciple ofCommission action onradioactive wastes ,aspart
ofthe programme onprotection ofthe environment .Itconfirmed the
necessity for such action initsResolution of7November 1974 andfelt
that itwas incumbent upon the Community andthe Member States toexamine
theproblems linked primarily with the development ofnuclear energy and.
2inparticular ,with active wastes .On26June 1975 (indirect action )and
18July 1977 (JRCaction )theCouncil approved the Community research and
development programmes onradioactive wastes which arecurrently in
progress .
Finally ,inits Resolution of17May 1977 onthe continuation ofthe
environment policy ,the Council confiremd and added totheradioactive waste
projects included inthe programme .
Asfar back asearly 1973 the European Parliament had drawn attention to
therole ofthe Community institutions asregards radioactive waste andto
theadvisability ofsetting upCommunity structures for thefinal storage
ofsuch wastes ^.Itconfirmed thenecessity forCommunity action inits
Opinions onthe R&D programmes .
Lastly ,the Economic and Social Committee has repeatedly stated that a
satisfactory solution tothe unsolved problems with regard toradioactive
wastes ought tobefound soon ifnuclear energy wastobedeveloped aspart
4ofthe energy programmes drawn upbythe Community andthe Member States •
OJ No L153 of9June 1973 .
20JNoL178/28of9July 1975.
Interim report onbehalf ofthe Committee onEnergy ,Research and Atomic
Problmes concerning the setting-up ofCommunity facilities forthefinal
storage ofradioactive wastes .Rapporteur MrBallardini .Document EP29.700
final of10January 1973 .
4See,for example ,ECS opinion onthe memorandum from the Commission tothe
Council entitled "Programme forthe management andstorage ofradioactive
wastes "Document ECS 617/75of29May 1975 ;ECS study onaCommunity code
for nuclear safety ,Doc.ECS 484/77EPof28April 1977 .

-5-
Thereasons justifying themerits andneeds forCommunity action on
radioactive wastes arerecapitulated below :
mostoftheCommunity countries areaffected byproblem ofradioactive
wastes because oftheir present andfuture nuclear programmes ;
they-oratleast mostofthem-haveincommon ahighpopulation
density which imposes uponthemthesamerestrictions asregards the
choice ofsolutions (absence ofdesert regions forinstance ;•
•thefundamental aimofthemanagement andstorage ofradioactive wastes
istoensure thatthepublic andtheenvironment areprotected against
theradiological risks attached tosuchwastes -thisistherefore a
public service ;
numerous problems linked withradioactive wastes,which areemerging
mindustrial ,economic ,ecological andsocial terms,extend beyond
national borders ,sothatthesolutions must besought inawider context ,
ucaprocedure would avoid thepremature andunilateral commitment of
eac Member State tocostly construction projects ,together withthe
multiplication ofradioactive waste depositories within theCommunity ,
would enable thecostoftheassociated public service tobereduced
andwould subsequently facilitate themonitoring ofthestorage-site
network andreduce itscosts .
thesolutions adopted could affect thedevelopment ofnuclear energy
through their cost;it1snecessary toensure thattheydonotresult
inindirect distortions ofcompetition ,butwillfacilitate theharmonious
development ofnuclear energy inalloftheCommunity countries ;
finally ,thereception given tothose solutions bythepublic should"Sedbya"•poroach "Community level;itwould ensure that both
manandtheenvironment will beequally protected ,regardless ofthe
technologies usedatthenational levels andofthespecific charac­
teristics ofnational grounds ..

-6-
Sofar Community action hasbasically consisted oftheresearch and
development programmes currently inprogress inthe Community *These
programmes areadditional toandtoanextent integrate those ofthe
Member States .
They represent aninitial step which must nevertheless befollowed by
others ,with asuitable back-up ,ifwewish tomeet thedeadlines of
1990-2000 .
The Commission therefore proposes aCommunity plan ofaction aimed at
organizing inthebest manner possible thepreparation ofthe long-term
solutions atCommunity level .This plan would cover all ofthe problems
raised bythevarious types ofradioactive waste with emphasis ,however ,
onthose relating tothe management andstorage ofhighly active and/or
long-lived wastes and would propose actions which aimatmaking possible
the setting-up ofaCommunity network ofstorage sites .Itwould operate
from 1978 to1990,since ashorter period would beinadequate forthe
work tobeachieved .Theplan would bereviewed every three years in
order totake account ofdevelopment inthe situation .
IH *The Community plan ofaction
Theplan,which istheobject ofaCouncil resolution (see Annex I)
revolves round the following six items :
(1)-acontinuous analysis ofthe situation within the Community
aimed atthe adoption ofthe necessary solutions
1The outcome oftheoperations ofthe various nuclear installations in
the Community andthe commissioning ofnew installations during the next
few years will generate wastes ofvarious types ,invarious quantities ,
atdifferent times .
The aim of .the analysis proposed isthejoint forecasting andlisting of
the various activities tobeundertaken inorder toenable waste tobe
managed andstored ,theplotting oftheir level ofinterdependence and
theprovision ofthetimetable which governs thedecisions and choices to
bemade asaresult ofdevelopment innuclear electricity inthe Community .
4Nuclear power plants ,reprocessing plants ,etc.

-7-
Itmustalsoenableareasofuncertainty tobeisolatedandensurethat
ifnecessary,alternative solutionswillbeavailableintime.
Finally,itmustpointupthequality,extent,andphasingofthe-
resourcesneededtobringalltheseactivitiestoasuitableconclusion .
Moreparticularly thefollowingshouldbedrawnup:
(a)Alistoftechniques availableforapplication totheprocessing
andconditioning ofwasteswithaviewtotheirpossiblecarriage and
storage,ofthedatesonwhichtheywillberequired,thedatesonwhich
thecorresponding installations willbeplacedin.service,andofany
alternative solutions .
Therearenotafewsolutionsinseveralcountrieseitheratthe
laboratoryorpilotstage,butinmanycasestheyarestilltobe
matchedtotherequirements offuturemanagement onanindustrial scale,
thisbeingafunctionoftheforeseeable development ofnuclearenergyin
theCommunityduringthenextfewdecades,anditistobeensuredthat
thismatchingtakesplaceingoodtime.Thevariousconsequences ofthe
choicesmadeandtherepercussions onthetypesofstoragemustalsobe
examinedwherethereareseveralsolutionstooneandthesameproblem.
(b)Theprogrammeofactivitiestobecarriedoutonthestorage
ofwasteandthetimetablefortheconstruction andplacinginservice
ofstorageinstallations whiletakingaccountofthenatureofthe
productstobestored.
Thetableonnuclearmaterialstransportisnotdealtwithinthis
memorandum.TheCommission proposestotaketheappropriate measures.

-8-
*
Work isbeing carried out inthis field byallthe Member States ,butto
different extents .Basically these activities relate tothe disposal of
highly active and/orlong-lived wastes insuitable geological formations .
Although some arecurrently restricting themselves totheacquisition of
fundamental scientifc date,they areall working along the same lines ,
i.e. :
-Listing ofgeological suitable regions ineach country ;
-Choice ofsome locations among those most favourable for the disposal
ofwastes after detailed geological studies both inlaboratory and
insitu ;
-Coirpilation ofadossier enabling anexperimental storage site tobe
prepared andthe corresponding installation tobeconstructed (where
the waste could berecovered ifnecessary );
-After anoperating period long enough ,decisions onthe possible
provision ofanindustrial final storage site ;
(c) Alist ofthe management practices relating tothe various
categories ofwaste ,complying with the safety rules ,tobedefined ;
the dates onwhich they can beapplied ;and the compatibility ofsuch
atimetable with those already drawn upfor the industrial application
ofthe technologies concerned .
<d)Inventory ofthe procedures aimed atenabling radioactive
waste tobestored definitively ,the timetable fortheir implementation
andthe compatibility ofthis timetable with items a,band cabove .
*
With theexception ofLuxembourg .These activities have been partially
incorporated inthe Community 'sprogramme ofindirect action .

-9-
(2)-Measures aimed atcreating aCommunity network ofsites
for storing radioactive wastes
The very long-term ,ifnot "final "(hundreds ofthousands ofyears ),
storage oflong-lived radioactive wastes isbasically intended to
protect the public andthe environment from any radioactive contamination
1during the time necessary for the wastes tobecome harmless .
This one ofthe most important projects that must beinplemented to
solve the problem presented byradioactive wastes asawhole .
2Asthe European Parliament stressed anumber ofyears ago,itismost
desirable forthis project tobestudied anddealt with atCommunity
level andthe establishment ofaCommunity network ofstorage sites
seems tobethe best means ofattaining theobjective mentioned above ,
while keeping expenditure toaminimum .
The facts are asfollows :
A. Onthetechnical level ,experts arepractically unanimous inconsidering
that the storage orsuch wastes atdepth insuitable geological formations -
salt,clay andcrystalline formations today seems tobethe most promising -
should enable the abovementioned objective tobeattained .
Itshould benotecj ,however ,that :
-The types ofgeological structure referred todonotexist inallthe
Member States ;
-Current knowledge of'these structures differ considerably from oneto
another ,-thus preventing aselection ofthe best from being made ;
inaddition ,the amount ofinformation available isstill toorestricted
incertain cases forthere tobeanycertainty that all thestructures
will live uptoexpectations regarding their suitabilities .
1The radioactive elements contained inthe wastes disappear gradually
through natural radioactive decay .
2Interim report drawn uponbehalf ofthe Committee onEnergy ,Research
and Atomic Questions onthe establishment ofCommunity facilities for
thefinal storage ofradioactive wastes (Rapporteur :MrBallardini )
Doc.EP29.700 final of10January 1973,previously mentioned .

-10-
-Notall ofthe structures that are promising from thegeological point
ofview aresuitable for the setting-up ofstorage sites ,since they
have tocomply with acertain number oftechnical and socio-economic
criteria .
-Certain structures may prove tobebest suited tothe storage ofa
certain category ofwaste and less suited tothe storage ofother
categories .
Anational choice ofstructures and storage sites ,taking into account
allthe accumulated knowledge and experience andproviding for one and
the same standard ofsafety for the public throughout the Community ,
would therefore best beeffective within awider than merely national
context .
B. More generally ,very long-term storage ofwastes inevitably involves
theresponsibility ofthe public authorities and can only benefit from
being studied anddealt with atCommunity level .
Such aprocedure would avoid the premature andunilateral commitment of
each Member State tocostly construction projects ,together with the
multiplication ofradioactive waste depositories within the Community ,
would enable the cost ofthe associated public service tobereduced and
would subsequently facilitate the monitoring ofthe storage-site network
and reduce its cost .
Ajoint project along these lines has already been implemented aspart
ofthe Community 'sindirect action programme onthe management and
storage ofraidioactive wastes which commenced in1975 .Itmust,however ,
beaccepted that this Community cooperative -level has sofar been
essentially restrited totechnological problems forming the subject of
research contracts under the aforementioned programme .
Accordingly ,itisnow being proposed that the necessary measures be
taken toeanble aCommunity storage network tobeset tip.
Thelist ofthese measures istobefound inAnnex I.

-11-
(3)-Gradual harmonization and standardization ofpractices
concerning the management ofwaste ,the quality and
properties ofconditioned wastes and the conditions
governing the disposal ofwastes
The management ofradioactive wastes has sofar been dealt with bythe
*competent authorities exclusively innational terms .The gradual
industrial application ofthe operations associated with the nuclear
fuel cycle will soon make itnecessary forpractices andpolicies still
being drawn uptobeadopted onthe basis of.acommon approach for the
acceptance criteria respecting the storage ofconditioned wastes tobe
defined andfortherequisite conditions tobelaid down sothat the storage
ofwastes can beundertaken .
Theindustrial development ofthe nuclear fuel cycle -itsfinal step being
the management andstorage ofreadioactive waste -would benefit from a
common discussion inthis field ;itwould make possible toarrive ata
better assessment ofthe costs ofthe measures tobeobserved and toensure
that decisions taken unilaterally bynational safety authorities donot
result inindirect distortions ofcompetition within the Community .
(4)-The continuity ofthe Community Research and Development
work for the duration ofthe plan
Chapter Iofthe EAEC Treaty limits toamaximum offive years the
duration ofCommunity programmes .Inthepresent case,such aduration is
ahandicap forthesatisfactory progress ofthe work,certain aspects of
which (for example those concerning the final storage ofwastes ingeological
formations )require continuous efforts over one ortwo decades .
This handicap affects both the Commission inimplementing its programmes
andthe national laboratories whose activities are financed inpart bythe
Community programme .
Itseems necessary toimplement aprocedure ,which depends onagood
management ensuring the continuity ofthe Research and Development effort
fortheduration oftheplan .
With theexception ofcertain adhoc arrangements put inhand bythe
Nuclear Energy Agency ofthe OECD and governing the disposal oflow-
and medium-activity wastes inthe sea.

-12-
(5)-The study ofways inwhich the Community canparticipate
financially incertain costs ,and contingency appropriations
inrespect ofthe disposal ofwaste
Asalready pointed out,thefinal storage ofradioactive waste presents a
number ofvery special problems ,since itinvolves long-term commitments
onthepart ofthe responsible authorities .
The inplementation andthe success ofsuch anoperation towards .1990
necessitates theprovision ofconsiderable finance bythe responsible
authorities : , .
-for research and development andthe setting-up ofthefirst storage
sites ;
-for coping with unforseen additional costs for the disposal operations ;
andtocontribute tothe expenditure which could not becovered bythe
application ofthe "polluter pays "principle totheelectricity producers
without eventually endangering their work ;
-toguard against thefinancial consequence ofany changes instorage
policy inthe light ofthe experience required inoperating theinitial
storage sites andofthe additional processing ofthe waste that could
*result from these changes ..
Itshould berecalled here that anopportunity ofrecovering thestored
wastes isprovided forduring theexperimental phase ofsite operation .

-13-
(6>-Periodically informing the public atCommunity level
The problem ofradioactive waste isone ofthe major problems forming an
obstacle topublic acceptance ofnuclear energy .Forthis reason an
efficacious information policy isessential .
Although the question ofthe acceptance ofnuclear energy ineach Member
State comes under theresponsibility ofthe State concerned ,the Community
can however contribute toobjective public information .
Inparticular ,thepublic must beacquainted with R&Defforts inthe
Community todeal with radioactive waste and kept abreast ofprogress made
inthe development ofsolutions andthe timescale ofthe relevant decisions .
*
 *
The plan would beinplemented bythe Commission ,assisted byahigh-level
expert panel responsible for advising itonthe performance ofthe
activities covered bythe plan and onthe drawing-up ofsuitable proposals
tobeput tothe Council .

Conclusion
Theadoptionofsuchaplanwouldrepresent anextensionofCommunity
actiontocovertheentireproblemofradioactive wastes,aproblem
whichcannotbebrokendownintoitscomponentparts.
ItwouldensurecontinuityintheCommunity'sactivitiesinthisareaand
wouldstrengthenthecooperation betweentheMemberStateswithinthe
Community.
Itwouldalsodemonstrate theimportance attachedbytheCommunity and
theMemberStatestomaintaining publicsafetyandtheprotectionof
theenvironment .
Finally,asisalreadythecaseatalowerlevelasregardstheCommunity
researchanddevelopment programmes underwayonradioactive wastes,the
planwouldactivelypromotefarilyextensiveinternational cooperation in
thissphereandintheforcingofincreasingly fruitfulinternational
cooperation withnon-member states-andmoreparticularly European
neighbours-andalsowithinterestedinternational organizations (IAEA,
OECD)whoseprogrammesitwouldcomplement andstrenghten.
TheCommission thereforeinvitestheCouncil:
-toadopttheResolution setoutinAnnexIonaCommunityplanof
actionrelatingtoradioactive wastes;
-toreachadecisiononthesetting-upofahigh-level committee
ofexpertsresponsibleforassistingtheCommission ontheinplementation
ofthevariousactivitiesprovidedforintheplanaridalsoonthe
drawingupofappropriate proposalstobeputtotheCouncil ^
(Cf.draftdecisionsetoutinAnnexII).

AnnexI
DRAFTCOUNCILRESOLUTION ONACOMMUNITY PLAN
OFACTIONRELATING TORADIOACTIVE WASTES
TheCounciloftheEuropeanCommunities,,
-HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishing theEuropeanAtomicEnergy
Community;
-HavingregardtothedraftfromtheCommission;
-WhereastheCommission hasaddressedtotheCouncilamemorandum ona
Communityplanofactioninthefieldofradioactive wastes;
-Whereasthedevelopment ofnuclearenergyisintendedtoenablethe
Communitytomeetanincreasingproportionofitselectricity needs
whileatthesametimeachievingdependability initssuppliesasa
resultofdiversification ofitssourcesoffuel;
-Whereastheforeseeable growthinthegenerationofelectricity by
nuclearmeansduringthenextdecadeswillinvolvecorresponding
wasteproduction;
-Whereastheachievement ofthisgrowthmustbeaccompanied bycomplete
respectforthesafetyofworkersandofthepublicandforthe
protectionoftheenvironment ;
-Whereastothisendtheproblemsraisedbythemanagement and
storageofradioactive Wastesmustbesolved;
rWhereastheCouncilhasalreadyacknowledged theneedforactionat
Communitylevelofthemanagement andstorageofradioactive wastesby
approvingtheCommunityenvironment andresearchanddevelopment programmes
currentlyinprogress .inthisfield;

-2-
-Whereastheproblemsraisedbyradioactive wastesnevertheless
constitute anindivisible complexofquestionsrelatingtothe
finaldevelopment ofthetechnologies acquiredandtoquestionsof
alegal,administrative andfinancialnaturewhichmustberesolved
inthesamecontext;
-WhereastheCommunityactivities inprogressonresearchand
development musttherefore bebackedupbyothermeasures;
-Whereas,finally,collaboration withnon-member countries and•
organizations inthefieldofradioactive wastemanagement and
storagecanonlybenefitfromanexpansionofCommunityactivities;
APPROVEStheplanofactionwhichformsanintegralpartofthis
resolution;
NOTESthattheCommissionwillputforwardproposalsrelevanttothe
appropriate inplementation ofthisplan.

-2-
(2)Measuresaimedatcreating aCommunitynetworkofsitesforstoring
radioactive wastes
Themeasuresunderconsideration are:
-ofatechnicalnature:°theintensification andextension,as
regardsallnationalprogrammesdealingwithstoragesites,ofthe
presentcoordination andexchangeofinformation effort,through
thecurrentR&Dprogramme;studyanddiscussion bytheHigh-Level
CommitteeofExperts*ofthetechnicaloptionsandtheprogrammes
concerningthedemonstration sitesinthevariousMemberStates,
thesiteatthisstagebeingundertheresponsibility ofthe
Stateconcerned;
°theexperimental exchangebetweenMember
Statesofwastesarisingfromdifferentprocessesforinterimstorage
ondemonstration sitesindifferentgeological formations;
°technicalstudy,fromthestandpointof
publicsafetythroughouttheCommunity,oftheadvantagesofa
Communitynetworkofstoragesites.
~ofalegalandfinancialnature:°studyoftheformwhichaCommunity
networkwouldtakeand6ftheCommunityrulesintendedtogovernits
operation;thestatuteofcommonenterprise maybeanadequateframe
forthispurpose;
°studyoftheproblemsofrespon­
sibilitypresentedbyCommunitystorage,takingintoaccounttheir
long-termaspects;
°studyofthecompensation
measurestobetakenintheeventofstorageofnon-national wastes.
SeedraftDecisioninAnnexII.

-3-
(3)Gradual harmonization and standardization ofpractices concerning
the management ofwaste ,the quality andproperties ofconditioned
wastes and the conditions governing the disposal ofwastes
Itseems necessary for regular consultation tobeorganized between
the responsible national authorities .
This would make itpossible :
-tofacilitate checking astowhether the rul.es governing safety
andtheprotection ofthe environment are being observed inthe
management ofwastes ,particularly where such management involves
several Member States ;
-toarrive atabetter assessment ofthe costs ofthe measures to
beobserved andtoensure that they donot result inindirect
distortions ofcoirpetition within the Community ;
-topromote jointly adopted standpoints and,where appropriate ,to
put them forward ininternational organizations such asthe IAEA
and the ISO,which can only further the subsequent relations ofthe
Member States ofthe Community with neighbouring European countries
and with third countries ingeneral .
(4)Continuity ofthe Community Research and Development work for the
duration ofthe plan
The Council would commit itself toact onthe new five-year Research
and Development proposals (indirect action )presented bythe Commission
within six months .
The Commission would commit itself topresent these proposals one year
atthe latest before completion ofthe preceding five-year programme .
Inparticular ,before 31Decelber 1978,the Commission would present
asecond Research and Development programme for 1980-84 tofollow
immediately after the 1975-79 programme currently underway ,andthe
Council would undertake toact onthis proposal before 30June 1979
sothat,inthe event ofanaffirmative decision ,therequisite budget
would beavailable in1980 .

<5)The study ofways inwhich the Community could participate financially
incertain costs ,and contingency appropriations inrespect ofthe
disposal ofwaste
(6)Periodically informing the public atCommunity level
Itisproposed :
-that the results ofthe analysis described initem (1)above be
published periodically intheOfficial Journal ofthe European
Communities ;
-that other measures capable ofmaking apositive contribution be
studied bytheHigh-Level Committee ofExperts *.
*See draft Decision inAnnex 11*-

ΑΪΠΤΕΧ II
DRAFT COUNCIL DECISION PITTHE ESTABLISHMENT OPAHIGH-LEVEL
COMMITTEE OFEXPERTS TOASSIST T.m COMMISSION ONHATTERS CONCERNING
THE IMPLEMENTATION 07APLAN OPACTION ONRADIOACTIVE WASTITS
TheCounoil oftheEuropean Communities ,
-Having regard totheTreaty establishing theEuropean Atomio Ehergy
Community ;
-Having regard tothedraft from theCommission ;
-Having regard toitsResolution of..... concerning theimplementation
oftheplan ofnotion onradioactive wastes ;
HAS DECIDED ASFOLLOWS t
Article 1
AnAdvisory Committee ofhigh-level experts ,hereinafter oalled
MTheCommittee *,issetup.
Article 2
TheCommittee ,which shall remain inoffice fortheentire duration of
theplan ,ischarged with thetask ofassisting theCommission inthe
implementation ofthevarious projects covered "bytheCommunity plan
onradioactive wastes ;itmay beconsulted bytheCommission during
theelaboration ofCommission 'sproposals *
Article 3
TheCommittee shall beformed ofrepresentatives ofthe Kernber States ,
amaximum ofthree members tobenominated byeach Government ,andof
- representatives oftheCommission .Atleast onemember perdelegation
shall beamember oftheAdvisory Committee onProgramme Management for
Community Programmes concerning themanagement andstorage ofradioactive
wasteB .
Article 4
TheCommittee shall elect itsChairman amongst itsmembers ;itssecretariat
shall beprovided bytheCommission .
Done atBrussels ,