WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1496/99 by Richard HOWITT Budget line B7-651
Date: 1999-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, HOWITT
Subjects: EU policy, code of conduct, development policy, type of business

29.1.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 27 E/97

(2000/C 27 E/119)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1493/99

by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)

What is the current position of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor)? Are partners
still committed?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(6 September 1999)

The engineering design of ITER is being conducted in the framework of the ITER engineering design
activities agreement (EDA) as extended till July 2001. Recently, the work has been re-oriented with the aim
of reducing the construction cost to 50 % of the initial estimate (i.e. to about 3 300 million €) and,
therefore, of reducing the technology objectives, while still fulfilling the overall mission of the programme.
The new design benefits from advances in physics and technology, achieved during the EDA. The study on
the outline design of the new device will be available at the end of the year.

The situation among the ITER partners is that the Community (with Swiss and Canadian participation),
Japan and Russia remain committed to complete the ITER EDA. The US (cid:129) which completed its withdrawal
from ITER in July 1999 (cid:129) is reviewing the strategy of its fusion energy sciences programme.

(2000/C 27 E/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1496/99

by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Budget line B7-651

Budget line B7-651 (cid:145)Coordination of development policy, evaluation of the results of Community aid and
follow-up and inspection measures(cid:146)
It is also intended to cover the
financing of conducting a study on European Union standards and codes of conduct for enterprises in
third countries following the keen interest in the subject by industry, trade unions and civil society.

includes the following remark:

Could the Commission give an update on action taken with regard to Parliament(cid:146)s wish to conduct a
study? Is the Commission doing the study internally or has it put out a tender?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 1999)

The Commission is fully aware of
the Parliament(cid:146)s resolution proposing initiatives on Community
standards and codes of conduct for European enterprises operating in third countries and of the Parliament
wish to conduct a study on this subject through budget line B. 7-6.

As the Honourable Member is aware, the budget line is mostly devoted to evaluation of programmes of
cooperation in developing countries financed by the Commission (mid-term evaluations, final evaluations,
sectoral and global evaluations).

Given the complexity of the proposed study, there is a need for widespread consultations between the
different parties concerned in order to define the objectives of the study and to elaborate detailed terms of
reference.

Since this is of such major importance, over the last year the Commission has organised a number of
meetings on codes of conduct relating to respect for social rights. It intends to continue this type of
meetings and promote exchanges of information and experience between those interested in developing
such codes. These meetings and exchanges will provide an essential input for an analysis of the content of
practices developed in Europe.