2006/969/EC: Council Decision of 18 December 2006 concerning the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) or nuclear research and training activities (2007 to 2011)
Date: 2006-12-18
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EAEC, EU financing, EU programme, Joint Research Centre, nuclear energy, nuclear research

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II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 18 December 2006

concerning the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community
(Euratom) or nuclear research and training activities (2007 to 2011)

(2006/969/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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 (1),

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Economic and
Social Committee (2),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Joint national and European efforts in the area of research
and training are
to promote and ensure
essential
economic growth and citizen's wellbeing in Europe.

The Seventh Framework Programme should complement
other EU actions in the area of the research policy that
the Lisbon
are necessary for
strategy,
training,
in particular
competitiveness and innovation,
industry, employment,
and environment.

the implementation of

those on education,

The Seventh Framework Programme builds on the
achievements of its predecessor towards the creation of
the European Research Area and carries them further
towards the development of the knowledge economy and
society in Europe.

The Commission Green Paper
‘Towards a European
strategy for energy supply’ highlights the contribution of
nuclear power to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases
and to reducing Europe's dependence on imported
energy.

On 24 August 2005,
the Commission submitted the
conclusions of an external assessment of the implementa-
tion and results of the Community activities in this field
carried out in the five years preceding that assessment,
accompanied by its observations.

(6) With reference to the Council Decision of 26 November
2004 amending the directives of negotiations on Interna-
tional Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), the
realisation of ITER in Europe, within a broader approach
to fusion energy, should be the central feature of the
activities on fusion research carried out under
the
Seventh Framework Programme.

(7)

(8)

(9)

Implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme
may give rise to the setting up of joint undertakings
within the meaning of Articles 45 to 51 of the Treaty.

Research activities supported by the Seventh Framework
Programme should comply with fundamental ethical
including those reflected in the Charter of
principles,
Fundamental Rights of
the European Union. The
opinions of the European Group on Ethics in Science
and New Technologies are and will be taken into
account.

This Decision establishes, for the entire duration of the
programme, a financial envelope which constitutes the
prime reference within the meaning of point 37 of the
Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between
the European Parliament, the Council and the Commis-
sion on budgetary discipline and sound financial manage-
ment (3), for the budgetary authority during the annual
budgetary procedure.

(10)

It is important to ensure sound financial management of
the Seventh Framework Programme and its implementa-
tion in the most effective and user-friendly manner
possible, as well as ease of access for all participants.

(11) Under the Seventh Framework Programme, due regard
should be paid to the role of women in science and
research with a view to further enhancing their active
role in research.

(1) Opinion of 15 June 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
(2) OJ C 65, 17.3.2006, p. 9.

(3) OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1.

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(12)

(13)

(14)

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) should contribute to
providing customer-driven scientific and technological
support for the formulation, development, implementa-
tion and monitoring of Community policies.
In this
regard, it is useful that the JRC continues to function as
an independent reference centre of science and tech-
nology in the EU in the areas of its specific competence.

The international and global dimension in European
research activities is important in the interest of obtaining
mutual benefits. The Seventh Framework Programme
should be open to the participation of countries having
concluded the necessary agreements to this effect, and
should also be open, on the project level and on the
basis of mutual benefit, to the participation of entities
from third countries and that of international organisa-
tions for scientific cooperation.

The Seventh Framework Programme should contribute to
the European Union by bringing
the enlargement of
scientific and technological support
to the candidate
countries for the implementation of Community acquis
and for their integration into the European Research
Area.

(15) Appropriate measures should also be taken to prevent
irregularities and fraud and the necessary steps should be
taken to recover funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly
used,
in accordance with Council Regulation (EC,
Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the
protection of the European Communities financial inter-
ests (1), Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of
11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and
inspections carried out by the Commission in order to
protect
interests
financial
irregularities (2) and Council
against
Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999 of 25 May 1999
concerning investigations conducted by the European
Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) (3).

the European Communities'
fraud and other

(16)

The Scientific
and Technical Committee has been
consulted by the Commission and has delivered its
opinion,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

work Programme’,
1 January 2007 to 31 December 2011.

is hereby adopted for

the period from

Article 2

Objectives

1.
The Seventh Framework Programme shall pursue the
general objectives set out in Article 1 and Article 2(a) of the
Treaty, while contributing towards the creation of a knowledge-
based society, building on the European Research Area.

2.
The Seventh Framework Programme shall comprise Com-
munity research, technological development, international coop-
eration, dissemination of technical information and exploitation
in two specific
activities as well as training,
programmes.

to be set out

The first specific programme shall cover the following:

(a) fusion energy research, with the objective of developing the
technology for a safe, sustainable, environmentally respon-
sible and economically viable energy source;

(b) nuclear fission and radiation protection, with the objective
of enhancing in particular the safety performance, resource
efficiency and cost-effectiveness of nuclear fission and other
uses of radiation in industry and medicine.

The second specific programme shall cover the activities of the
Joint Research Centre (JRC) in the field of nuclear energy.

The broad lines of the specific programmes are described

3.
in Annex I.

Article 3

Maximum overall amount and shares assigned to each
programme

1.
The maximum overall amount for the implementation of
the Seventh Framework Programme for the period 2007 to
2011 shall be EUR 2 751 million. That amount shall be distrib-
uted as follows (in EUR million):

Article 1

Nuclear fission and radiation protection

Fusion energy research (1)

Adoption of the Seventh Framework Programme

Nuclear activities of the JRC

1 947

287

517

A multiannual framework programme for nuclear research and
training activities, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Seventh Frame-

(1) Within the amount foreseen for fusion energy research, at least EUR 900
million will be reserved to activities other than the construction of ITER, listed
in Annex I.

(1) OJ L 312, 23.12.1995, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2.
(3) OJ L 136, 31.5.1999, p. 8.

The detailed rules for Community financial participation

2.
in the Seventh Framework Programme are set out in Annex II.

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Article 4

Protection of the Communities' financial interests

For Community actions financed under this Decision, Regula-
tions
(EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 and (Euratom, EC) No
2185/96 shall apply to any infringement of a provision of Com-
munity law, including infringement of a contractual obligation
stipulated on the basis of the Seventh Framework Programme,
resulting from an act or omission by an economic operator,
which has, or would have, the effect of prejudicing the general
budget of the European Union or budgets managed by it, by an
unjustified item of expenditure.

Article 5

Fundamental ethical principles

the Seventh Framework Programme and its
evaluation of
specific programmes building upon the ex-post evaluation of
the Sixth Framework Programme. This evaluation shall cover
the quality of the research activities taking place, as well as the
quality of implementation and management, and the progress
towards the objectives set.

Following the completion of

3.
the Seventh Framework
Programme, the Commission shall cause to be carried out an
external evaluation by independent experts of
its rationale,
implementation and achievements.

The Commission shall communicate the conclusions thereof,
accompanied by its observations, to the European Parliament,
the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and
the Committee of the Regions.

All the research activities carried out under the Seventh Frame-
work Programme shall be carried out in compliance with funda-
mental ethical principles.

Article 7

Entry into force

Article 6

Monitoring, assessment and review

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The Commission shall continually and systematically
1.
monitor
the Seventh Framework
Programme and its specific programmes and regularly report
and disseminate the results of this monitoring.

implementation of

the

Not later than 2010, the Commission shall carry out, with
2.
the assistance of external experts, an evidence-based interim

Done at Brussels, on 18 December 2006

For the Council

The President

J.-E. ENESTAM

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ANNEX I

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL OBJECTIVES, THEMES AND ACTIVITIES

INTRODUCTION

The Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and
training activities is organised in two parts corresponding to the ‘indirect’ actions on fusion energy research and nuclear
fission and radiation protection, and the ‘direct’ research activities of the JRC.

I.A. FUSION ENERGY RESEARCH

Objective

Developing the knowledge base for, and realising ITER as the major step towards, the creation of prototype reactors for
power stations which are safe, sustainable, environmentally responsible, and economically viable.

Rationale

There are serious shortcomings in Europe's energy supply with respect to short, medium, and long-term considerations. In
particular, measures are needed to address the issues of security of supply, climate change, and sustainable development,
while ensuring that future economic growth is not threatened.

In addition to the efforts which the EU is making in the field of research into renewable energies, fusion has the potential
to make a major contribution to the realisation of a sustainable and secure energy supply for the EU a few decades from
now after the market penetration of commercial fusion reactors. Its successful development would provide energy which
is safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly. The long-term goal of European fusion research, embracing all the fusion
activities in the Member States and associated third countries, is the joint creation, in approximately thirty or thirty-five
years and subject to technological and scientific progress, of prototype reactors for power stations which meet these
requirements, and are economically viable.

The strategy to achieve the long-term goal entails, as its first priority, the construction of ITER (a major experimental
facility which will demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power), followed by the construction of
DEMO, a ‘demonstration’ fusion power station. This will be accompanied by a dynamic programme of supporting R&D
for ITER and for the developments in fusion materials, technologies and physics required for DEMO. This would involve
European industry, the fusion associations and third countries, in particular parties to the ITER Agreement.

Activities

1. The realisation of ITER

This includes activities for the joint realisation of ITER (as an international research infrastructure), in particular for site
preparation, establishing the ITER Organisation and the European Joint Undertaking for ITER, management and
staffing, general technical and administrative support, construction of equipment and installations and support for the
project during construction.

2. R&D in preparation of ITER operation

A focused physics and technology programme will exploit
facilities and resources in the fusion
programme, i.e. JET and other magnetic confinement devices, existing, future or those under construction (Tokamaks,
Stellarators, RFPs). It will assess specific key ITER technologies, consolidate ITER project choices, and prepare for
ITER operation through experimental and theoretical activities.

the relevant

3. Technology activities in preparation of DEMO

This entails the vigorous development of fusion materials and key technologies for fusion, including blankets, and the
establishment of a dedicated project team to prepare for the construction of the International Fusion Materials Irradia-
tion Facility (IFMIF) to qualify materials for DEMO. It will include irradiation testing and modelling of materials, studies
of the DEMO conceptual design, and studies of the safety, environmental and socio-economic aspects of fusion energy.

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4. R&D activities for the longer term

The activities will include further development of improved concepts for magnetic confinement schemes with potential
advantages for fusion power stations (focussed on the completion of the construction of the W7-X stellarator device),
theory and modelling aimed at a comprehensive understanding of the behaviour of fusion plasmas and coordination,
in the context of a keep-in-touch activity, of Member States' civil research activities on inertial confinement.

5. Human resources, education and training

In view of the immediate and medium term needs of ITER, and for the further development of fusion, initiatives aimed
at ensuring that adequate human resources will be available, in terms of numbers, range of skills and high-level training
and experience will be pursued, in particular in relation to the physics and engineering of fusion.

6. Infrastructures

The construction of the international fusion energy research project ITER will be an element of the new research infra-
structures with a strong European dimension.

7. Technology transfer processes

ITER will require new and more flexible organisational structures to enable the process of innovation and technological
progress which it creates to be swiftly transferred to industry, so that the challenges can be met to enable European
industry to become more competitive.

I.B. NUCLEAR FISSION AND RADIATION PROTECTION

Objective

Establishing a sound scientific and technical basis in order to accelerate practical developments for the safer management
of long-lived radioactive waste, enhancing in particular the safety performance, resource efficiency and cost-effectiveness
of nuclear energy and ensuring a robust and socially acceptable system of protection of man and the environment against
the effects of ionising radiation.

Rationale

Nuclear power currently generates one third of all electricity consumed in the EU and, as the most significant source of
base-load electricity that, during the operation of a nuclear power plant, does not emit CO2, constitutes an important
element in the debate on the means of combating climate change and reducing Europe's dependence on imported energy.
The European nuclear sector as a whole is typified by cutting-edge technology and provides highly skilled employment for
several hundred thousand people. More advanced nuclear technology could offer the prospect of significant improvements
in efficiency and use of resources, at the same time ensuring even higher safety standards and producing less waste than
current designs.

There are, however, important concerns that affect the continued use of this energy source in the EU. Efforts are still
required to ensure a continuation of the Community's outstanding safety record and the improvement of radiation protec-
tion continues to be a priority area. The key issues are operational reactor safety and management of long-lived waste,
both of which are being addressed through continued work at the technical level, though allied political and societal
inputs are also required. In all uses of radiation, throughout industry and medicine alike, the overriding principle is the
protection of man and the environment. All thematic domains to be addressed here are characterised by an overriding
concern to ensure high levels of safety. Similarly there are clearly identifiable needs throughout nuclear science and engi-
neering relating to availability of research infrastructures and expertise. In addition, the individual technical areas are
linked by key cross-cutting topics such as the nuclear fuel cycle, actinide chemistry, risk analysis and safety assessment
and even societal and governance issues.

Research will also be needed to explore new scientific and technological opportunities and to respond in a flexible way to
new policy needs that arise during the course of the Seventh Framework Programme.

Activities

1. Management of radioactive waste

Implementation-oriented research and development activities on all remaining key aspects of deep geological disposal
of spent fuel and long-lived radioactive waste and, as appropriate, demonstration of the technologies and safety, and to
underpin the development of a common European view on the main issues related to the management and disposal of
waste. Research on partitioning and transmutation and/or other concepts aimed at reducing the amount and/or hazard
of the waste for disposal.

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2. Reactor systems

Research to underpin the continued safe operation of all relevant types of existing reactor systems (including fuel cycle
facilities), taking into account new challenges such as life-time extension and development of new advanced safety
assessment methodologies (both the technical and human element) including as regards severe accidents, and to assess
the potential, the safety and waste-management aspects of future reactor systems, in the short and medium term,
thereby maintaining the high safety standards already achieved within the EU and considerably improving the long-
term management of radioactive waste.

3. Radiation protection

Research, in particular on the risks from low doses, on medical uses and on the management of accidents, to provide a
scientific basis for a robust, equitable and socially acceptable system of protection that will not unduly limit the benefi-
cial and widespread uses of radiation in medicine and industry. Research to minimise the impact of nuclear and radi-
ological terrorism and diversion of nuclear material.

4. Infrastructures

Supporting the availability of, and cooperation between, research infrastructures such as material test facilities, under-
ground research laboratories, radiobiology facilities and tissue banks, necessary to maintain high standards of technical
achievement, innovation and safety in the European nuclear sector.

5. Human resources, mobility and training

Supporting the retention and further development of scientific competence and human capacity (for instance through
joint training activities) in order to guarantee the availability of suitably qualified researchers, engineers and employees
in the nuclear sector over the longer term.

II. NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES OF THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE (JRC)

Objective

To provide customer driven scientific and technical support to the Community policy-making process in the nuclear field,
ensuring support to the implementation and monitoring of existing policies while flexibly responding to new policy
demands.

Rationale

The JRC supports the objectives of the European strategy for energy supply, in particular that of meeting the Kyoto objec-
tives. The Community has a recognised competence in many aspects of nuclear technology, and this is built on a solid
basis of past successes in the domain. The usefulness of the JRC in its support to Community policies and in its contribu-
tion to the new trends in nuclear research are based on its scientific expertise and its integration in the international scien-
tific community and on cooperation with other research centres as well as dissemination of knowledge. The JRC has
competent staff and state-of-the-art facilities to carry out recognised scientific and technical work, aiming at keeping Euro-
pean research at the forefront through the quality of its scientific and technical work. The JRC supports the policy of the
Community to maintain basic competences and expertise for the future by giving access to its infrastructures to other
researchers and by training young scientists and fostering their mobility, thus sustaining nuclear know-how in Europe.
New demand has emerged in particular in the external relations and security-related policies. In these cases, in-house and
secure information, analyses and systems are needed which cannot always be obtained on the market.

The nuclear activities of the JRC aim to satisfy the R&D requirements to support both Commission and Member States.
The objective of this programme is to develop and assemble knowledge and to provide input to the debate on nuclear
energy production, its safety and reliability, its sustainability and control, its threats and challenges, including the assess-
ment of innovative and future systems.

Activities

The JRC activities will focus on:

1) nuclear waste management and environmental impact, aiming to understand the nuclear fuel processes from produc-
tion of energy to waste disposal and to develop effective solutions for the management of high level nuclear waste
following the two major options (direct disposal or partitioning and transmutation). Activities will also be developed
to enhance knowledge and improve the processing or conditioning of long-lived waste and basic research into acti-
nides;

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2) nuclear safety, in implementing research on existing as well as on new fuel cycles and on reactor safety of both
western and Russian reactor types as well as on new reactor design. In addition the JRC will contribute to, and coordi-
nate, the European contribution to the Generation IV International Forum R&D initiative, in which the best research
organisations in the world are involved. The JRC should act as integrator of research in this area with the aim of
ensuring the quality of the European contribution to GIF. The JRC will contribute exclusively to those areas that can
improve safety and safeguard aspects of innovative fuel cycles, in particular characterisation, test and analysis of new
fuels; the development of safety and quality goals, safety requirements and advanced evaluation methods for systems;

3) nuclear security, in supporting the accomplishment of Community commitments, in particular the control of the fuel
cycle facilities emphasising the back-end of the fuel cycle, the monitoring of the radioactivity in the environment, or
the implementation of the additional protocol and the integrated safeguards, and the prevention of the diversion of
nuclear and radioactive material associated with illicit trafficking in such material.

In addition, the JRC will facilitate fact-based debate and informed decision-making on the energy mix appropriate to meet
the European energy needs (including renewable sources of energy and nuclear power).

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ANNEX II

FUNDING SCHEMES

Subject to the rules for participation established for the implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme, the Com-
munity will support research and technological development activities, including demonstration activities in the specific
programmes, through a range of funding schemes. These schemes will be used, either alone or in combination, to fund
different categories of actions implemented throughout the Seventh Framework Programme.

1. FUNDING SCHEMES IN FUSION ENERGY

In the field of fusion energy research, the particular nature of the activities in the area necessitates the implementation of
specific arrangements. Financial support will be given to activities carried out on the basis of procedures set out in:

1.1. the Contracts of Association, between the Commission and Member States or fully associated third countries or enti-
ties within Member States or fully associated third countries which provide for the execution of part of the Com-
munity fusion energy research programme according to Article 10 of the Treaty;

1.2. the European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA), a multilateral agreement concluded between the Commission
and organisations in, or acting for, Member States and associated third countries providing inter alia the framework
for further research on fusion technology in associated organisations and in industry, use of the JET facilities and the
European contribution to international cooperation;

1.3. the European Joint Undertaking for ITER, based on Articles 45 to 51 of the Treaty;

1.4.

international agreements between Euratom and third countries covering activities in the field of fusion energy
research and development, in particular the ITER Agreement;

1.5. any other multilateral agreement concluded between the Community and associated organisations, in particular the

Agreement on Staff Mobility;

1.6. cost-sharing actions to promote and contribute to fusion energy research with bodies in the Member States or the
third countries associated with the Seventh Framework Programme in which there is no Contract of Association.

In addition to the above activities, actions to promote and develop human resources, fellowships, integrated infrastructure
initiatives as well as specific support actions may be undertaken in particular to coordinate fusion energy research, to
undertake studies in support of these activities and to support publications, information exchange, and training in order
to promote technology transfer.

2. FUNDING SCHEMES IN OTHER FIELDS

The activities in fields other than fusion energy under the Seventh Framework Programme will be funded through a range
of funding schemes. These schemes will be used, either alone or in combination, to fund different categories of actions
implemented throughout the Seventh Framework Programme.

The decisions for specific programmes, work programmes and calls for proposals will mention, as and when appropriate:

— the type(s) of scheme(s) used to fund different categories of actions,

— the categories of participants (such as research organisations, universities,

industry, public authorities) which can

benefit from them,

— the types of activities (research, development, demonstration, training, dissemination, transfer of knowledge and other

related activities) which can be funded through each of them.

Where different funding schemes can be used, the work programmes may specify the funding scheme to be used for the
topic on which proposals are invited.

The funding schemes are the following:

(a) To support actions which are primarily implemented on the basis of calls for proposals:

1. Collaborative projects

Support to research projects carried out by consortia with participants from different countries, aiming at devel-
oping new knowledge, new technology, products or common resources for research. The size, scope and internal
organisation of projects can vary from field to field and from topic to topic. Projects can range from small or
medium-scale focused research actions to larger integrating projects which mobilise a significant volume of
resources for achieving a defined objective.

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2. Networks of excellence

Support to joint research programmes implemented by a number of research organisations integrating their activ-
ities in a given field, carried out by research teams in the framework of longer-term cooperation. The implementa-
tion of these joint research programmes will require a formal commitment from the organisations integrating part
of their resources and their activities.

3. Coordination and support actions

Support to activities aimed at coordinating or supporting research (networking, exchanges, studies, conferences,
etc). These actions may also be implemented by means other than calls for proposals.

4. Actions to promote and develop human resources and mobility

Support for training and career development of researchers.

(b) To support actions implemented on the basis of decisions by the Council, based on a proposal from the Commission,
the Community will provide financial support to multi-financed large-scale initiatives by the means of the following
contributions:

— a financial contribution to the implementation of joint undertakings carried out on the basis of the procedures

and provisions set out in Articles 45 to 51 of the Treaty,

— a financial contribution to the development of new infrastructures of European interest.

The Community will implement the funding schemes in compliance with the provisions of the Regulation to be adopted
for the rules for participation of undertakings, research centres and universities, the relevant State aid instruments, in par-
ticular the Community framework for State aid to research and development, as well as international rules in this area. In
compliance with this international framework, it will be necessary to be able to adjust the scale and form of financial
participation on a case-by-case basis, in particular if funding from other public sector sources is available, including other
sources of Community financing such as the European Investment Bank (EIB).

In the case of participants to an indirect action established in a region lagging in development (convergence regions ( 1)
and outermost regions), complementary funding from the Structural Funds will be mobilised wherever possible and
appropriate.

3. DIRECT ACTIONS — JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE

The Community will undertake activities implemented by the JRC, which are referred to as direct actions.

(1) Convergence regions are defined in Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 of 11 July 2006 laying down general provisions on
the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund (OJ L 210, 31.7.2006, p. 25). This includes
regions eligible for funding from the Structural Funds under the Convergence objective and regions eligible for funding from the Cohesion
Fund.