Modified proposal for a Council Decision Concerning the sixth multiannual framework programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) for Research and training activities aimed at contributing towards the creation of the European Research AREA (2002-2006) - (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC-Treaty)
Date: 2001-11-22
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, EU research policy, innovation, research and development, research programme

C 75 E/182

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

26.3.2002

Modified proposal for a Council Decision concerning the sixth multiannual framework programme
of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for research and training activities aimed at
contributing towards the creation of the European Research Area (2002-2006) (1)

(2002/C 75 E/11)

(Text with EEA relevance)

COM(2001) 709 final (cid:151) 2001/0054(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty on 22 November 2001)

(1) OJ C 180 E, 26.6.2001, p. 177.

INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Unchanged

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,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Having regard to the opinion of
Committee,

the Economic and Social

Whereas:

(1) A multiannual

framework programme

covering all
including demonstration and training
research activities,
activities in the field of nuclear energy, to be implemented
by means of research and training programmes, may be
adopted pursuant to Article 7 of the Treaty.

(2) In 2000 the Commission submitted two communications,
respectively on the prospects for and the objectives of
creating a European Research Area (1), and on making a
reality of the European Research Area and guidelines for
EU research activities in the period 2002-2006 (2).
In
2000 the Commission also submitted a communication
on (cid:145)Innovation in a knowledge-driven economy(cid:146) (3).

(3) The European Councils in Lisbon in March 2000 and
Santa Maria de Feira in June 2000 adopted conclusions
aimed at the rapid establishment of a European Research
and Innovation Area with a view to job creation and
economic growth.

___________
(1) COM(2000) 6 final, 18.1.2000.
(2) COM(2000) 612 final, 4.10.2000.
(3) COM(2000) 567 final, 20.9.2000.

26.3.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 75 E/183

INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

(4) The European Parliament (1) (2),

the
Economic and Social Committee (5) and the Committee
of the Regions (6) have also supported the creation of
the European Research Area.

the Council (3) (4),

(5) On 19 October 2000 (7) the Commission submitted the
conclusions of an external assessment of the implemen-
tation and results of the Community activities carried out
in the five years preceding that assessment, accompanied
by its observations.

(6) It

is therefore necessary to adopt a new framework
programme for the period 2002-2006 aimed at making
a contribution to bringing about the European Research
Area.

(7) The framework programme 2002-2006 sets out

the
scientific and technological objectives and priorities of
the activities envisaged and indicates the broad lines of
those activities which will be implemented in compliance
with the objective of protecting the Community’s financial
interests.

(7) The sixth framework programme sets out the scientific
and technological objectives and priorities of the activities
envisaged and indicates the broad lines of those activities
which will be implemented in compliance with the
objective
financial
interests.

the Community’s

of protecting

(8) A financial reference amount within the meaning of point
the Interinstitutional Agreement between the
34 of
European Parliament, the Council and the Commission
on budgetary discipline and improving the budgetary
procedure (8) is included in this Decision for the entire
duration of the framework programme without thereby
the budgetary authority as
affecting the powers of
defined in the Treaty.

Unchanged

(9) The Joint Research Centre (JRC)

is called on help
implement the framework programme,
in particular in
those areas in which it can offer objective and inde-
pendent expertise and in which it can play a role in the
implementation of other Community policies.

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

(10) Research activities carried out within the sixth framework
programme should respect fundamental ethical principles,
notably those which appear in the Charter of Funda-
mental Rights of
Institutions
involved in nuclear
research should take account of
public acceptability of their activities.

the European Union.

___________
(1) Resolution of 18 May 2000, PE 290.465, p. 48.
(2) Resolution of 15 February 2001.
(3) Resolution of 15 June 2000, OJ C 205, 19.7.2000, p. 1.
(4) Resolution of 16 November 2000, OJ C 374, 28.12.2000, p. 1.
(5) Opinion of 24 May 2000, OJ C 204, 18.7.2000, p. 70.
(6) Opinion of 12 April 2000, OJ C 226, 8.8.2000, p. 18.
(7) COM(2000) 659 final, 19.10.2000.
(8) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1.

C 75 E/184

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

26.3.2002

INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

(11) Following the Commission Communication (cid:145)Women and
Science(cid:146) (1) and the Resolutions of the Council (2) and the
European Parliament (3) on this theme, an Action Plan is
being implemented in order to boost and increase the
place and role of women in science and research in
Europe.

Unchanged

(12) Participation in the activities of

the sixth framework
programme will be encouraged through publication of
the necessary information on content, conditions and
procedures,
to be made available in a timely and
including
thorough manner
those from the candidate and other associated countries.

to potential participants,

(12) It

is appropriate that

the Commission should submit
regular progress reports on the implementation of the
framework programme 2002-2006 and that
it should
have an independent assessment carried out concerning
the implementation of the activities in good time and
before submitting its proposal
for the next framework
programme.

(13) It

implementation of

is appropriate that

the Commission should submit
regular progress reports to the European Parliament and
the Council on the
sixth
framework programme and that it should have an inde-
pendent assessment carried out concerning the implemen-
tation of the activities in good time and before submitting
its proposal for the next framework programme, which
will be done in a spirit of openness with respect to all the
relevant actors.

the

(13) The

Scientific

and Technical Committee has been
consulted by the Commission and has delivered its
opinion.

(14) The

Scientific

and Technical Committee has been
consulted by the Commission and has delivered its
opinion.

(15) The financial

implications of

sixth
framework programme are compatible with the current
ceiling under heading 3 of the financial perspective,

the multi-annual

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Unchanged

Article 1

A multiannual framework programme for research and
1.
training activities in the field of nuclear energy, hereinafter
referred to as
is
hereby adopted for the period 2002-2006.

the (cid:145)framework programme 2002-2006(cid:146)

A multiannual framework programme for research and
1.
training activities in the field of nuclear energy, hereinafter
referred to as the (cid:145)sixth framework programme(cid:146)
is hereby
adopted for the period 2002-2006.

2.
The framework programme 2002-2006 shall comprise all
research, technological development, international cooperation,
dissemination and exploitation activities as well as training in
the following fields:

2.
The sixth framework programme shall comprise all
research, technological development, international cooperation,
dissemination and exploitation activities as well as training in
the following fields:

(cid:151) treatment and storage of waste;

Unchanged

(cid:151) controlled thermonuclear fusion;

(cid:151) other Euratom activities;

(cid:151) the Joint Research Centre’s Euratom activities.
___________
(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.

26.3.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 75 E/185

INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

The Annex sets out

3.
the scientific and technological
objectives and the related priorities and indicates the broad
lines of the activities envisaged.

Article 2

The financial reference amount for the implementation of
1.
this framework programme for the period 2002-2006 shall be
EUR 1 230 million, of which EUR 150 million for
the
treatment
and storage of waste, EUR 700 million for
controlled thermonuclear fusion, EUR 50 million for other
Joint
Euratom activities,
Research Centre’s Euratom activities.

and EUR 330 million for

the

The financial reference amount for the implementation of
1.
the sixth framework programme for the period 2002-2006
shall be EUR 1 230 million, of which EUR 150 million for
the treatment and storage of waste, EUR 700 million for
controlled thermonuclear fusion, EUR 50 million for other
Joint
Euratom activities,
Research Centre’s Euratom activities.

and EUR 330 million for

the

for

The detailed rules

2.
financial participation by the
Community shall be governed by the Financial Regulation
European
applicable
to
Communities,
the
research and training programme(s) which the Council will
adopt in order to implement this Decision.

the General
supplemented where

appropriate

Budget

the

by

of

Unchanged

Article 3

All the research activities carried out under the framework
in compliance
programme 2002-2006 shall be carried out
with fundamental ethical principles.

the

research activities

sixth
the
All
in compliance
framework programme shall be carried out
with fundamental ethical principles. Equality of opportunity,
irrespective of gender, will be fully respected.

carried out under

Article 4

Unchanged

the

Progress with implementing
framework programme
2002-2006, and in particular progress towards achieving its
objectives and meeting its priorities, shall be presented in
detail in the report to be published by the Commission each
year pursuant to Article 7 of the Treaty.

Progress with implementing the sixth framework programme,
and in particular progress towards achieving its objectives and
including its financial aspects shall be
meeting its priorities,
to be published by the
presented in detail
Commission each year pursuant to Article 7 of the Treaty.

in the report

Article 5

Unchanged

for

the next

submitting its proposal

the Commission shall have

framework
Before
programme,
an assessment
carried out by independent high-level experts of the implemen-
tation of Community activities during the five years preceding
that assessment. The Commission shall communicate the
conclusions thereof, accompanied by its observations, to the
European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social
Committee

for

the next

submitting its proposal

the Commission shall have

framework
Before
programme,
an assessment
carried out by independent high-level experts of the implemen-
tation of Community activities during the five years preceding
that assessment. The Commission shall communicate the
conclusions thereof, accompanied by its observations, to the
European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

Article 6

Unchanged

The framework programme 2002-2006 is open to the partici-
pation of

(cid:151) the EEA countries, in accordance with the conditions estab-

lished in the EEA agreements;

(cid:151) the central and eastern European candidate countries
in accordance with the conditions established in
(CEEC),
the Europe Agreements,
additional protocols
thereto and in the decisions of the respective Association
Councils;

in the

The sixth framework programme is open:, in accordance with
the relevant agreements, decisions or protocols, to the partici-
pation of the EEA countries, the candidate countries, and other
countries including Switzerland.

C 75 E/186

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

26.3.2002

INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

(cid:151) Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, on the basis of bilateral

agreements to be concluded with these countries;

(cid:151) Switzerland and Israel, on the basis of bilateral agreements

to be concluded with these countries.

ANNEX

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL OBJECTIVES

1.

PRIORITY THEMATIC AREAS OF RESEARCH

Unchanged

1.1. Waste treatment and storage

Nuclear fission energy today supplies 35 % of electricity in the EU.
It is an element in the debate on how to combat climate change
and reduce Europe’s dependence on imported energy. The power
plants at present in operation will continue to be operated for at
least 20 years.

Looking to the longer term, new technologies for the safe exploi-
tation of nuclear fission energy could be developed in order to
meet European energy needs in the decades ahead in such a way
as to take into account the requirements of sustainable devel-
opment.

The exploitation of nuclear fission energy for energy production is
now encountering the problem of waste, and more particularly the
individual
the
of
management of long-lived waste.

implementation

solutions

technical

for

European public and private sector research efforts with regard to
nuclear waste treatment and storage technologies are significant.
Through its coordination effects, EU action in this area makes it
possible to assemble them into a critical mass and ensure the
coherence of the guidelines adopted by the waste management
organisations and industries concerned.

EU action will cover both the immediate problem of waste storage
and the longer term question of reducing its impact.
In this
connection, it will address the following aspects:

(cid:151) research into processes

long term storage in deep
geological strata, with the networking of the activities carried
out on various sites in the three main types of geological
formations envisaged;

for

(cid:151) research aimed at

reducing the impact of waste, more
particularly as a result of the development of new concepts
for reactors producing less waste and the development of tech-
nologies to reduce the hazards associated with waste by means
of partitioning and transmutation techniques.

26.3.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 75 E/187

INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

1.2. Controlled thermonuclear fusion

Controlled thermonuclear fusion is one of the long term options
for energy supply in conditions of sustainable development,
in
particular for the centralised supply of base-load electricity.

reasons bound up with the complexity of

For
fundamental
knowledge in physics and the technological problems to be
resolved, the developments needed for the possible application
of fusion for energy production will necessarily take the form of
a process in several steps each of which, possibly taking several
tens of years, has an impact on the next.

The efforts deployed in the context of the integrated European
research programme on controlled thermonuclear fusion imple-
mented by the EU have enabled Europe to become a world leader
in the field of research into fusion by magnetic confinement.

The progress made on the research and the results obtained, in
particular with the European JET Tokamak, now make it possible
to consider moving on to the (cid:145)Next Step(cid:146): the production of a
machine capable of producing fusion reactions in conditions
comparable to that of an energy production reactor.

The completion of the preparatory work on the detailed design of
the (cid:145)Next Step(cid:146)
in the context of the ITER international coop-
eration project makes it possible to take a decision about the
launching of this project and the construction of the machine.

The objective of this will be to demonstrate the scientific and
technological feasibility of fusion energy production. The precise
arrangements for implementing the project will depend on the
the negotiations at present under way in the
outcome of
international cooperation and subsequent devel-
framework of
taken concerning
opments, more particularly the decisions
Europe’s contribution to the ITER project and the site where the
machine is to be installed. An appropriate legal framework will
need to be established.

EU participation in the ITER initiative requires the implementation
of an accompanying programme including the following elements:

(cid:151) Operation of the JET machine in such a way as to derive
from the improvements currently being made, as
benefit
well as possible participation in the
research activities
needed to complete the decommissioning of JET at the end
of its life cycle.

study

including:

confinement

and evaluation of

(cid:151) The continuation of research into fusion physics and tech-
alternative
nology,
the
magnetic
continuation of the construction of the Wendelstein 7-X (cid:145)stel-
larator(cid:146) and operation of
the existing installations in the
Euratom Associations; coordinated activities regarding tech-
nological research,
in particular research into materials for
fusion.

formulas, with in particular

C 75 E/188

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

26.3.2002

INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

Realising the (cid:145)Next Step(cid:146) will mobilise significant human and
financial resources. The current efforts of Euratom’s European
partners with regard to fusion should be adjusted accordingly,
once a decision is taken about the construction of ITER.

2. OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF NUCLEAR SAFETY AND

SAFEGUARDS

On the basis of calls for proposals and in support of EU policies
in the fields of health, energy and the environment:

(cid:151) Research in the field of radiation protection, more particularly
with regard to the quantification of the risks associated with
low levels of exposure;

(cid:151) Studies of innovative concepts for new and safer processes for

the exploitation of nuclear energy;

(cid:151) Education and training concerning nuclear

safety

and

radiation protection.

3.

ACTIVITIES OF THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE

3.

NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES OF THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE

In accordance with its task of providing scientific and technical
support for EU policies, the JRC will focus its activities on the
following fields:

In accordance with its task of providing scientific and technical
support for EU policies, the JRC’s activities will have the following
focus. The principal objective will be to further develop colla-
boration through networking, leading to broad consensus on a
range of
these issues at European and world-level. Special
attention will be given to co-operation with candidate countries.
Training activities will be an important component for JRC to
help equip the Community with a future generation of scientists
with the necessary competencies and expertise. The main areas of
research activity will be as follows (1):

3.1. Nuclear safety and security

Unchanged

Waste treatment and storage, in particular separation and trans-
mutation techniques for long-lived actinides; radiation protection;
safety of existing reactors (with priority for
reactors in the
candidate countries), as well as reactors of the new generation;
control of fissile materials and support for their non-proliferation;
monitoring the decommissioning of obsolete nuclear installations.

3.2. Measurements and reference materials

Radionuclide metrology, in particular in the case of low activity
and round robin tests in the framework of networks of labora-
tories of excellence; interaction between neutrons and matter for
the generation of base data for studies concerning the trans-
mutation of waste and the development of new systems.

___________
(1) In addition, the JRC is entitled to participate in all research activities on the
same basis as national research organisations (e.g. on the basis of calls for
proposals).