Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific programme 2002-2006 for research and training to be carried out by the Joint Research Centre by means of direct actions for the European Atomic Energy Community
Date: 2001-05-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EAEC, EU programme, EU research policy, research and development, research programme, technological change

28.8.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific programme 2002-2006 for research and
training to be carried out by the Joint Research Centre by means of direct actions for the
European Atomic Energy Community

(2001/C 240 E/31)

(Text with EEA relevance)

COM(2001) 279 final (cid:151) 2001/0126(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission on 1 June 2001)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic
Energy Community, and in particular the first paragraph of
Article 7 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Having regard to the opinion of
Committee,

the Economic and Social

Whereas:

framework programme 2002-2006 of

(1) By Decision No . . ./. . ./Euratom, the Council adopted the
multiannual
the
European Atomic Energy Community for research and
training activities aimed at contributing towards
the
creation of
the European Research Area (hereinafter
referred to as (cid:145)the framework programme(cid:146)) to be imple-
mented by means of research and training programme(s)
drawn up in accordance with Article 7 of the Treaty,
which define the detailed rules for their implementation,
fix their duration and provide for the means deemed
necessary.

(2) The rules for the participation of undertakings, research
centres and universities and for
the dissemination of
research results, for the framework programme, adopted
in Decision No . . ./. . ./Euratom should
by the Council
apply to this programme.

(3) In implementing this programme, emphasis should be
given to promoting the mobility and training of
researchers, and innovation, in the Community.

(4) For

implementing

the purpose of

framework
it may be appropriate to engage in inter-
programme,
national co-operation activities,
in particular on the
basis of Chapter X of the Treaty, with third countries
and international organisations. Special attention should
be paid to Accession Countries.

the

(5) Research activities carried out within this programme
should
ethical principles,
notably those which appear in the Charter of Funda-
mental Rights of the European Union.

fundamental

respect

the

(6) Following the Commission Communication (cid:145)Women and
Science(cid:146) (1) and the Resolution of the Council (2) and the
European Parliament (3) on this theme, an action plan is
being implemented in order to reinforce and increase the
place and role of women in science and research.

(7) This programme should be implemented in a flexible,
efficient and transparent manner,
taking account of
relevant needs of JRC’s users and Community policies,
as well as respecting the objective of protecting the
communities financial
interests. The research activities
carried out under it should be adapted where appropriate
to these needs and to scientific and technological devel-
opments.

(8) The JRC should implement

the research and training
activities carried out by means of direct action,
in
particular the tasks entrusted to the Commission by the
Treaty. The Commission should undertake the tasks
fission,
in the area of nuclear
incumbent upon it
making use of the technical expertise of the JRC.

(9) The JRC should actively pursue activities in innovation

and technology transfer.

(10) In the implementation of this programme, the Board of
Governors of
the JRC should be consulted by the
Commission in accordance with the relevant provisions
of Commission Decision 96/282/Euratom of 10 April
1996 on the reorganisation of the JRC (4).

(11) The Commission should in due course arrange for an
independent assessment to be conducted concerning the
activities carried out
in the fields covered by this
programme.

(12) The

Scientific

and Technical Committee has been
consulted on the scientific and technological content of
this specific programme.

(13) The Board of Governors of the JRC has been consulted on
the scientific and technological content of this specific
programme,

(1) COM(1999) 76.
(2) Resolution of 20 May 1999 (OJ C 201, 16.7.1999).
(3) Resolution of 3 February 2000, PE 284.656.
(4) OJ L 107, 30.4.1996, p. 12.

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HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1.
In accordance with Decision [. . .] on the framework
(cid:145)the
programme 2002-2006 (hereinafter
framework programme(cid:146)), a specific programme related to
direct action of research and training activities to be carried
out by the Joint Research Centre (hereinafter referred to as (cid:145)the
specific programme(cid:146)) is hereby adopted for the period from
[. . .] to 31 December 2006.

referred to as

The objectives and scientific and technological priorities

2.
for the specific programme are set out in Annex I.

Article 2

to [Decision [. . ./. . .]/the
In accordance with Annex II
framework programme],
the amount deemed necessary for
the execution of the specific programme is EUR 330 million.
An indicative breakdown of this amount is given in Annex II to
this Decision.

Article 3

The Commission shall be responsible for the implemen-

1.
tation of the specific programme.

The

2.
accordance with the specific rules set out in Annex III.

specific programme

shall be

implemented in

Article 4

The Commission shall draw up a work programme for
1.
the implementation of the specific programme, which shall be
made available to all interested parties, setting out in greater
detail the objectives and priorities, the timetable for implemen-
tation and the implementation arrangements.

The work programme shall

take account of relevant
2.
research activities carried out by the Member States, Associated
States, European and international organisations.
It shall be
updated where appropriate.

Article 5

the

purposes

specific
1.
For
programme,
the JRC shall be
consulted by the Commission in accordance with Commission
Decision 96/282/Euratom.

the Board of Governors of

implementing

the

of

2.
The Commission shall regularly inform the Board of
Governors of the implementation of this specific programme.

Article 6

1.
The Commission shall regularly report on the overall
progress of the implementation of the specific programme, in
accordance with Article 4 of the framework programme.

The Commission shall arrange for

the independent
2.
the framework
assessment provided for
programme to be conducted concerning the activities carried
out in the fields covered by the specific programme.

in Article 5 of

Article 7

The Commission may request the JRC to execute, on the basis
of the criterion of mutual benefit, projects with legal entities
established in third countries when this contributes effectively
to the execution of direct actions.

Article 8

This decision is addressed to the Member States.

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SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL OBJECTIVES AND BROAD OUTLINES OF THE ACTIVITIES

ANNEX I

1.

INTRODUCTION

The Joint Research Centre carries out its mission to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the
conception, development,
It serves the common
interest of the Member States while being independent of special interests, private or national.

implementation and monitoring of European Union policies.

The JRC’s contribution to the framework programme 2002-2006 incorporates recommendations of recent
evaluations of the JRC (1) and requirements necessitated by the Reform of the Commission. In particular, it includes

(cid:151) A strengthened user-orientation.

(cid:151) Networking activities to create a broad knowledge base and, in the spirit of the European Research Area (ERA),
more closely associate Member State laboratories, industry and regulators in the S&T support provided to the
EU policies.

(cid:151) The concentration of activities on selected themes,
expertise in the EU and its associated Member States.

including training of researchers to maintain nuclear

Co-ordination will be assured with the indirect actions under the Euratom specific programme.

It responds to clearly expressed needs and requirements, notably from the Commission services, which have been
identified, are updated through systematic and regular contacts (2).

In its domains of competence, the JRC’s contribution will aim at establishing synergies with the relevant thematic
priorities in the other specific programmes, notably through participation in the indirect action, with a view to add
value, when appropriate, to the work carried out therein (e.g. through the comparison and validation of tests and
methods or the integration of results for policy-making purpose).

2.

PROGRAMME CONTENT

2.1. Motivation

JRC’s activities in the nuclear area aim to support related Community policies and specific Treaty obligations
entrusted to the Commission. Nuclear energy supplies about a third of the Community’s electricity and vigilance
is still required to ensure a continuation of the Community’s outstanding safety record, to maintain efforts to avoid
proliferation and to efficiently manage the processing and long-term storage of waste. The Enlargement of the
Union together with the needs of safeguarding material arising from the disarmament process or the emergence of
new technological developments introduce new challenges.

the JRC operates where its
Focusing its activities in areas where Community involvement
pan-European identity provides an added-value and where its action is justified by the cross-border aspects of
nuclear safety and security or by public concern about the issues: safeguards, non-proliferation, radio-active waste
management, reactor safety and radiation monitoring will be the key areas.

is appropriate,

The principal objective will be to further develop collaboration through networking, leading to broad consensus on
a range of these issues at European and world-level. The application of Safeguards by the Euratom Safeguards Office
(ESO) and the IAEA requires R&D support and direct assistance. Special attention will be given to co-operation with
future EU Member States. Training activities will be an important component for JRC to help equip the EU with a
future generation of scientists with necessary nuclear skills and expertise. Main areas of research activity will
therefore be as follows:

(cid:151) Radio-active waste management and safeguarding nuclear materials.

(cid:151) Safety of present and innovative reactors, radiation monitoring and medical applications from nuclear research.

(1) Davignon Report (2000), 5-year assessment of JRC (2000), 1999 JRC Scientific Audit, Prioritisation Audit 2001.
(2) Annual user workshops, interservice group of user DGs, bilateral agreement, etc.

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2.2. Radio-active waste management and safeguarding nuclear materials

Spent fuel and high level waste treatment and storage

To address the issues of spent nuclear fuels and radio-active waste treatment and management, the JRC will further
develop its understanding of fundamental physical, chemical and materials science data on actinides and actinide-
containing products. The JRC will continue to provide basic nuclear data (such as elements cross sections, behaviour
in extreme conditions) of importance for waste management studies as well as for material and medical sciences.

The basic processes governing the behaviour of irradiated fuel under conditions of interim storage or long term
geological disposal will be further investigated.

The JRC will continue to test and evaluate processes to improve the efficient separation (partitioning) of radio-toxic
elements from spent fuel and the subsequent reprocessing of the resulting products. This will be carried out with
European partners under the transmutation and partitioning programme. Besides this experimental and theoretical
approach JRC will pursue and extend its participation in networks with a possible co-ordinating role like in the
international working group on fuel design for the accelerator driven systems.

Nuclear safeguards

The safeguards work will provide direct support to the inspectorates (ESO and IAEA) and to operators and will
undertake related underpinning research to prepare for future demands including continuous improvements of
safeguards activities to adapt to political context, in particular changes in verification regimes, and technological
evolution. The activity includes the development and assessment of instrumentation in the areas of destructive and
non-destructive assays; provision of certified reference materials, containment and surveillance,
training of
inspectors and the upgrading and operation of on-site laboratories. JRC will continue to be the focus point of
the European Safeguards Research and Development Association (ESARDA) network.

The strengthening of the safeguard regime is increasingly reliant on information technologies to improve efficiency
and to carry out new measures.
JRC will pursue its efforts in developing environmental monitoring, satellite
monitoring, and innovative data and information management systems as well as improved communications and
remote surveillance techniques that enable certain safeguards activities to be performed remotely from headquarters.
Synergy with the work performed by JRC in the area of anti-fraud will be further developed.

The JRC will continue to support the transfer of the technological (cid:145)acquis communautaire(cid:146) in the safeguards area to
the Applicant Countries.

The JRC is closely involved in the international efforts to detect clandestine activities and to combat the illicit
trafficking of nuclear materials. Nuclear forensic science will be further developed.

From nuclear safeguards to non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

The JRC will support the non-proliferation by adapting specialised know-how and techniques used for nuclear
safeguards that may also potentially support verification regimes of nuclear and other weapons for mass
destruction.

2.3. Safety of present and innovative reactors, radiation monitoring and medical applications from nuclear

research

Safety of present and innovative reactors

The high safety level of plants within the EU must be maintained, in particular for reactors to be operated for a
further 10-50 years. The JRC will continue supporting safety authorities and nuclear plant operators by networking
on ageing, damage detection, in-service inspection, structural integrity assessment and production of fundamental
neutron data. Accident analysis and management, validation of codes, systems’ analysis, and risk-informed methods
development are traditional JRC competencies, which are important both for EU harmonisation and in view of
enlargement. Support to the PHEBUS programme will continue. Retrieval of experimental data and their archiving
for easy availability will be supported.

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Development of a common safety culture in central and eastern European countries is a further area for JRC
support; this includes operational safety measures and plant upgrading, structural integrity, accident prevention and
management.

On the safety of nuclear fuel, JRC will concentrate on mechanical and chemical interactions at the fuel/cladding
interface and on fuel behaviour at high burn-up. The Transuranus fuel performance codes will continue to be
extended with new data and training of users, including scientists from eastern European countries.

Together with industry and R & D institutions, the JRC will contribute to the analysis and evaluation of several
safety features of new energy production systems, currently under investigation in several countries.

Radiation monitoring

Research into understanding how to protect the citizen and the environment against the effects of ionising radiation
requires reliable dosimetry as a basis. The JRC’s long-standing expertise in radio-protection and its reference
laboratory for radionuclide metrology will be used to develop further skills and various nuclear measurements.

The radionuclide metrology activity includes new networks, which will provide support to nuclear safety together
with food, chemical and environmental safety (with the detection of radioactivity traces and speciation). Efforts will
focus on reference radionuclide metrology and on monitoring of low radiation levels.

Medical applications from nuclear research

A number of nuclear technologies of importance for medical applications have resulted from JRC’s nuclear facilities
and expertise. These emerge from research on new isotope production, development of clinical reference materials
and support
improve the co-ordination of such activities
throughout Europe through networking with universities, nuclear research facilities, research centres, European
medical associations and the pharmaceutical industry.

to diagnostic and therapeutic tools. The JRC will

ANNEX II

INDICATIVE BREAKDOWN OF THE AMOUNT

Activity

Amount (EUR million)

Radio-active waste management and safeguarding nuclear materials

Safety of present and innovative reactors, radiation monitoring and medical applications
from nuclear research

Staff necessary for the monitoring of the decommissioning of JRC obsolete installations

213

102

15

Total

330 (1) (2)

(1) Of which approximately 6 % may be allocated to exploratory research and up to 2 % for exploitation of own JRC results and

technology transfer.

(2) This total includes the JRC’s budget contribution necessary for its participation in indirect actions.

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ANNEX III

SPECIFIC RULES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAMME

1. The Commission, after consulting the Board of Governors of the JRC, shall implement the direct action on the basis
of the scientific objectives and contents described in Annex I. The activities relating to this action shall be performed
in the relevant institutes of the Joint Research Centre (JRC).

2. In the implementation of its activities, the JRC will, whenever appropriate and feasible, participate in or organise
networks of public and private laboratories in the Member States or European research consortia in the support of
the European policy making process. Particular attention shall be paid to co-operation with industry, especially with
small and medium-sized enterprises. Research bodies established in third countries may also co-operate on projects,
in accordance with the relevant provisions of Article 6 and, where applicable, of agreements for scientific and
technological co-operation between the Community and the third countries concerned. Particular attention will be
paid to co-operation with research laboratories and institutes in the Candidate countries and countries of central and
eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

It will also use appropriate mechanisms to continuously identify the requirements and needs of its customers and
users and to involve them in the related activities.

3. The knowledge gained through implementation of the projects will be disseminated by the JRC itself (taking into

account possible limitations due to confidentiality issues).

4. The accompanying measures shall include:

(cid:151) the organisation of the visits of JRC staff to national laboratories, industrial laboratories and universities,

(cid:151) the promotion of mobility of young scientists, particularly from the Candidate countries,

(cid:151) specialised training with the emphasis on the nuclear expertise and the nuclear safety culture in the European

Union,

(cid:151) the organisation of visits to JRC institutes of visiting scientists and seconded national experts, particularly from

the Candidate countries,

(cid:151) systematic exchange of information, through, inter alia, the organisation of scientific seminars, workshops and

colloquiums and scientific publications,

(cid:151) the independent scientific and strategic evaluation of the performance of the projects and programmes.