A4-0459/98

Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific programme (Euratom) for research and training on 'Preserving the ecosystem¨ (1998 to 2002)(COM(98)0306 - C4-0430/98 - 98/0187(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Title

>Original text>

Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific programme (Euratom) for research and training on 'Preserving the ecosystem¨ (1998 to 2002)

>Text following EP vote>

Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific programme (Euratom) for research and training on

'Nuclear Energy¨ (1998 to 2002)

(Amendment 2)

Recital 5

>Original text>

Whereas, for the purpose of implementing this programme, it may be appropriate to engage in international cooperation activities with third countries and international organisations, notably on the basis of Article 101 of the Treaty;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, for the purpose of implementing this programme, it may be appropriate to engage in international cooperation activities with third countries and international organisations, notably on the basis of

Articles 101 and 206 of the Treaty;

(Amendment 3)

Article 1

>Original text>

In accordance with Article 3(1) of the fifth framework programme, the specific programme on "Preserving the ecosystem¨ (hereinafter referred to as "the specific programme¨) is hereby adopted for the period from [the date of adoption of this programme] to 31 December 2002.

>Text following EP vote>

In accordance with Article 3(1) of the fifth framework programme, the specific programme on

"Nuclear Energy¨ (hereinafter referred to as "the specific programme¨) is hereby adopted for the period from [the date of adoption of this programme] to 31 December 2002.

(Amendment 4)

Article 2(1), (2), and (3)

>Original text>

1. In accordance with Article 2 of the fifth framework programme, the amount deemed necessary for carrying out the specific programme (hereinafter referred to as 'the amount¨) is ECU 1 141 million, including a maximum of 13% for the Commission¨s administrative expenditure.

>Text following EP vote>

1.

In accordance with Annex III of the fifth framework programme, the amount deemed necessary for carrying out the specific programme (hereinafter referred to as 'the amount¨) is EUR 979 million, including a maximum of X.XX% for the Commission¨s administrative expenditure.

>Original text>

2. An indicative breakdown of this amount is given in Annex I.

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2.

An indicative breakdown of this amount is given in Annex I.

>Original text>

3. Of this amount

- ECU 375 million is for the period 1998 to 1999, and

- ECU 766 million is for the period 2000 to 2002.

>Text following EP vote>

3.

Of this amount

- EUR 238.2 million is for the period 1998 to 1999, and

- EUR 740.8 million is for the period 2000 to 2002.

>Original text>

Where appropriate, the latter figure will be adapted in accordance with Article 3(3) of the fifth framework programme.

>Text following EP vote>

Where appropriate, the latter figure will be adapted in accordance with Article

2 of the fifth framework programme.

(Amendment 5)

Article 2(4)

>Original text>

4. The budgetary authority shall, in compliance with the scientific and technological objectives and priorities laid down in this Decision, set the appropriations for each financial year taking into account the availability of resources within the multiannual financial perspective.

>Text following EP vote>

4.

The budgetary authority shall, in compliance with the scientific and technological objectives laid down in this Decision, set the appropriations for each financial year.

(Amendment 6)

Article 5(1), 3rd subparagraph (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall publish the work programme and every updated version thereof in paper and electronic form (on the Internet).

(Amendment 7)

Article 5(2a)(new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

2a. All proposals for RTD actions will take into account the European Union's policies on equal opportunities.

(Amendment 8)

Article 6(2)

>Original text>

2. For the purposes of implementing this programme the Commission shall be assisted by a consultative committee. The composition of this committee and the detailed operational rules and procedures applicable to it shall, for the fission-related aspects, be as laid down in Council Decision 84/338/Euratom, ECSC, EEC dealing with management and coordination advisory committees; for the fusion-related aspects they shall be as laid down in the Council Decision of 16 December 1980 dealing with the consultative committee for the fusion programme.

>Text following EP vote>

2.

For the purposes of implementing this programme the Commission shall be assisted by a consultative committee. The composition of this committee and the detailed operational rules and procedures applicable to it shall, for the fission-related aspects, be as laid down in Council Decision 84/338/Euratom, ECSC, EEC dealing with management and coordination advisory committees; for the fusion-related aspects they shall be as laid down in the Council Decision of 16 December 1980 dealing with the consultative committee for the fusion programme. These committees shall meet as a rule in public, unless a specific duly motivated decision is taken to the contrary and published in good time. The agendas and complete minutes of the meetings of both these committees, including the results of votes, shall be published without delay in paper and electronic form (on the Internet). The committees shall maintain public registers of declarations of interest by their members.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

These provisions shall be adopted in accordance with the European Parliament position on a new act laying down the principles governing European Union committees chaired by the Commission and the implementing powers of the Commission.

(Amendment 9)

Article 6a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Article 6a

Protection of the financial interests of the European Communities shall be guaranteed in accordance with Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 on the protection of the European Communities' financial interests(1).

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(1) OJ L 312, 23.12.1995, p. 1.

(Amendment 10)

Annex II, Introduction, Strategic objective of the programme, paragraph 2, 1st indent

>Original text>

- a key action on controlled thermonuclear fusion, the aim of which is to further develop the necessary basis for the possible construction of an experimental reactor, as well as basic concepts and technologies required in the long term for the reactor;

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a key action on controlled thermonuclear fusion, the aim of which is the maintenance of scientific and technological expertise in the domain of controlled thermonuclear fusion, with a view, in the long term, to the possible construction of safe, clean and economically competitive prototype reactors for power stations operated by utilities in an increasingly liberalised and privatised market.

(Amendment 11)

Annex II (a)(i), 1st indent, 1st paragraph

>Original text>

- Continuation of ongoing research: The fusion physics and technology activities will aim to develop the capacity - especially within the associations, JET and the European industry - to plan an experimental reactor. Europe will continue to participate in the ITER engineering design activities (EDA) in preparation of the possible reactor construction.

>Text following EP vote>

- Next Step Activities: The fusion physics and technology activities will aim to develop the capacity - especially within the associations, JET and the European industry - to plan an experimental reactor. Europe will continue to participate in the ITER engineering design activities (EDA) in preparation of the possible reactor construction. As part of the ITER Programme, a select International Parliamentary Committee (IPC) shall be set up in which, in accordance with a specific formula, members of the parliaments of the ITER participants (European Union, United States of America, Japan and Russia) shall be represented. They shall be kept informed of the technical and financial results of ITER. The IPC shall be entitled to receive information and to be consulted. The Commission shall take the initiative in this respect, in agreement with the European Parliament. The costs incurred by the IPC shall be borne by the ITER Programme.

(Amendment 12)

Annex II (a)(i), 2nd indent, 2nd paragraph

>Original text>

Research priorities: The construction, the exploitation and the upgrading of devices, decided upon during the previous framework programme and the upgrading of other existing devices; the diagnostics and the means of action on fusion plasmas; the continuation of theoretical studies; studies aiming at operating a remotely located fusion experiment; in addition to magnetic confinement, the coordination, in the context of a keep-in-touch activity, of the national civil research activities on inertial confinement and possible drawing up of new concepts.

>Text following EP vote>

Research priorities: The construction, the exploitation and the upgrading of devices, decided upon during the previous framework programme and the upgrading of other existing devices; the diagnostics and the means of action on fusion plasmas; the continuation of theoretical studies; studies aiming at operating a remotely located fusion experiment; in addition to main-line tokamak research, the pursuit of a range of technological options in the national associations, including spherical tokamaks, stellarators, inertial confinement and continued work on theoretical plasma physics.

(Amendment 13)

Annex II (a)(i), 3rd indent, 2nd paragraph

>Original text>

Research priorities: To develop tritium breeding blankets and a reference structural material for constructing DEMO-relevant modules; to carry out prospective studies on advanced low-activation and radiation-resistant materials for DEMO; a new safety and environmental impact assessment; analysis of the socio-economic aspects of fusion; conceptual study of a DEMO reference design.

>Text following EP vote>

Research priorities: To develop tritium breeding blankets and a reference structural material for constructing DEMO-relevant modules; to carry out prospective studies on advanced low-activation and radiation-resistant materials for DEMO; a new safety and environmental impact assessment; analysis of the socio-economic aspects of fusion; conceptual study of a DEMO reference design.

The key action will also encompass a full assessment of the technical, social, environmental and economic prospects for fusion power reactors in an increasingly privatised and liberalised electricity market. This assessment will be carried out by a leading independent international engineering consultancy to be selected by the Council and the European Parliament. In addition, a User Community Panel of power utility experts and managers will be established to ensure the relevance of fusion research to power utilities' needs. This panel will report its findings every year to the Council and the European Parliament.

(Amendment 14)

Annex II (a)(ii), 1st indent, 2nd paragraph

>Original text>

RT priorities: to develop a common basis and common methods for determining safe residual life-spans; how ageing affects the integrity of structures and systems; improved methods of inspection and monitoring to enhance safety and reduce occupational exposure; modernisation of control systems; strategies to prevent and mitigate serious accidents; man-machine interface; organisation and management of safety.

>Text following EP vote>

RT priorities: to develop a common basis and common methods for determining safe

decommissioning; how ageing affects the integrity of structures and systems; improved methods of inspection and monitoring to enhance safety and reduce occupational exposure during phase-out; strategies to prevent and mitigate serious accidents; man-machine interface; organisation and management of safety and safeguards.

(Amendment 15)

Annex II (a)(ii), 2nd indent, 2nd paragraph

>Original text>

RT priorities: To develop a common understanding and consensus on the management and disposal of radioactive waste, including waste minimisation and the potential use of chemical separation and transmutation; to test and demonstrate the technical feasibility of deep disposal in underground laboratories, including the assessment of repository performance and the long-term behaviour of repository components; a common framework for assessing and managing the safety of the whole fuel cycle including social aspects; quality assurance systems.

>Text following EP vote>

RT priorities: To develop a common understanding and consensus on the management and disposal of radioactive waste, including waste minimisation;

to test and demonstrate the technical feasibility of the use of chemical separation and transmutation including the construction of a demonstration transmuter system; to test and demonstrate the technical feasibility of deep disposal in underground laboratories, including the assessment of repository performance and the long-term behaviour of repository components; a common framework for assessing and managing the safety of the whole fuel cycle including social aspects; quality assurance systems.

(Amendment 16)

Annex II (a)(ii), indent 4a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

- Research in support of nuclear disarmament:Support for, and research into, stepping up the pace of nuclear disarmament by technical contributions in cooperation with the nuclear powers and the IAEA in Vienna, including in particular techniques for the safe removal of the radioactive components of nuclear weapons.

(Amendment 18)

Annex II (b), 1st paragraph

>Original text>

The objective is to consolidate and advance European knowledge and competence in the radiological sciences in order to: maintain and improve the safety and efficacy of industrial and medical uses of radiation; better assess and manage exposure from natural sources of radiation; support the development and practical application of radiation protection standards.

>Text following EP vote>

The objective is to consolidate and advance European knowledge and competence in the radiological sciences in order to: maintain and improve the safety and efficacy of industrial and medical uses of radiation; better assess and manage exposure from natural sources of radiation; support the development and practical application of radiation protection standards;

performingbasic research with a view to drawing up nuclear safety criteria to be applied throughout the Union.

(Amendment 21)

Annex II (b) 1st indent, 1st paragraph

>Original text>

- Radiation protection and health. Research will focus on improving the basis for estimating the risks of low and protracted doses of ionising radiation.

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Radiation protection and health. Research will focus on improving the basis for estimating the risks of low and protracted doses of ionising radiation, with particular emphasis on the direct and indirect effects on human beings, and general research into the impact on hereditary characteristics.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific programme (Euratom) for research and training on 'Preserving the ecosystem¨ (1998 to 2002) (COM(98)0306 - C4-0430/98 - 98/0187(CNS))(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(98)0306 - 98/0187(CNS) ((OJ C 236, 28.7.1998, p. 10.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 7 of the Euratom Treaty (C4-0430/98),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on External Economic Relations (A4-0459/98),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 119, second paragraph of the Euratom Treaty;

3. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

4. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.