2006/970/Euratom: Council Decision of 18 December 2006 Concerning the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities (2007 to 2011)
Date: 2006-12-18
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, Joint Research Centre, nuclear energy, nuclear research, research programme, scientific research

L 400/60 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

30.12.2006 

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) 

for nuclear research and training activities (2007 to 2011) 

(2006/970/Euratom) 

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, 

1 
2 

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

 
                                                 
30.12.2006 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

L 400/61 

Whereas: 

(1) 

Joint national and European efforts in the area of research and training are essential to 

promote and ensure economic growth and citizen's wellbeing in Europe. 

(2) 

The Seventh Framework Programme should complement other EU actions in the area of 

the research policy that are necessary for the implementation of the Lisbon strategy, in 

particular those on education, training, competitiveness and innovation, industry, 

employment, and environment. 

(3) 

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. 

(4) 

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. 

(5) 

On 24 August 2005, the Commission submitted the conclusions of an external assessment 

of the implementation and results of the Community activities in this field carried out in 

the five years preceding that assessment, accompanied by its observations. 

 
L 400/62 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

30.12.2006 

(6) 

With reference to the Council Decision of 26 November 2004 amending the directives of 

negotiations on International 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) 

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. 

(8) 

Research activities supported by the Seventh Framework Programme should comply with 

fundamental ethical principles, including those reflected in the Charter of 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. 

(9) 

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 Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial 
management1, for the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary procedure. 

1 

OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1. 

 
                                                 
30.12.2006 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

L 400/63 

(10) 

It is important to ensure sound financial management of the Seventh Framework 

Programme and its implementation 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. 

(12) 

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) should contribute to providing customer-driven scientific 

and technological support for the formulation, development, implementation 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 technology in the EU in the 

areas of its specific competence. 

(13) 

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 organisations for 

scientific cooperation. 

 
L 400/64 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

30.12.2006 

(14) 

The Seventh Framework Programme should contribute to the enlargement of the European 

Union by bringing 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 interests 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 the European Communities' 
financial interests against fraud and other irregularities2 and Council Regulation (Euratom) 

No 1074/1999 of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European 
Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)3. 

(16) 

The Scientific and Technical Committee has been consulted by the Commission and has 

delivered its opinion, 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:  

1 
2 
3 

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

 
                                                 
30.12.2006 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

L 400/65 

Article 1 

Adoption of the Seventh Framework Programme 

A multiannual framework programme for nuclear research and training activities, hereinafter 

referred to as the "Seventh Framework Programme", is hereby adopted for the period from 

1 January 2007 to 31 December 2011. 

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 Community research, technological 

development, international cooperation, dissemination of technical information and 

exploitation activities as well as training, to be set out in two specific programmes. 

The first specific programme shall cover the following: 

(a) 

fusion energy research, with the objective of developing the technology for a safe, 

sustainable, environmentally responsible 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. 

 
L 400/66 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

30.12.2006 

The second specific programme shall cover the activities of the Joint Research Centre 

(JRC) in the field of nuclear energy. 

3. 

The broad lines of the specific programmes are described in Annex I. 

Maximum overall amount and shares assigned to each programme 

Article 3 

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 

distributed as follows (in EUR million): 

Fusion energy research1 

Nuclear fission and radiation protection 

Nuclear activities of the JRC 

1 947 

287 

517 

2. 

The detailed rules for Community financial participation in the Seventh Framework 

Programme are set out in Annex II. 

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. 

 
                                                 
30.12.2006 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

L 400/67 

Article 4 

Protection of the Communities' financial interests 

For Community actions financed under this Decision, Regulations (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 and 

(Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 shall apply to any infringement of a provision of Community 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 

All the research activities carried out under the Seventh Framework Programme shall be carried out 

in compliance with fundamental ethical principles. 

Article 6 

Monitoring, assessment and review 

1. 

The Commission shall continually and systematically monitor the implementation of the 

Seventh Framework Programme and its specific programmes and regularly report and 

disseminate the results of this monitoring. 

 
L 400/68 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

30.12.2006 

2. 

Not later than 2010, the Commission shall carry out, with the assistance of external 

experts, an evidence-based interim evaluation of the Seventh Framework Programme and 

its 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. 

3. 

Following the completion of 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. 

 
30.12.2006 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

L 400/69 

Article 7 

Entry into force 

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

the European Union. 

Done at Brussels, 18 December 2006. 

For the Council 

The President 

J.-E. ENESTAM 

 
 
 
 
 
L 400/70 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

30.12.2006 

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. 

 
 
30.12.2006 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

L 400/71 

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. 

 
L 400/72 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

30.12.2006 

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 the relevant 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. 

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 Irradiation 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. 

 
30.12.2006 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

L 400/73 

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 infrastructures 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. 

 
L 400/74 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

30.12.2006 

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. 

 
30.12.2006 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

L 400/75 

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 protection 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 engineering 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. 

 
L 400/76 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

30.12.2006 

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 beneficial and widespread 

uses of radiation in medicine and industry. Research to minimise the impact of nuclear and 

radiological terrorism and diversion of nuclear material. 

 
30.12.2006 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

L 400/77 

4. 

Infrastructures 

Supporting the availability of, and cooperation between, research infrastructures such as 

material test facilities, underground 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. 

 
L 400/78 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

30.12.2006 

Rationale 

The JRC supports the objectives of the European strategy for energy supply, in particular that of 

meeting the Kyoto objectives. 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 contribution to the new trends in nuclear 

research are based on its scientific expertise and its integration in the international scientific 

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 European 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 assessment of innovative and future systems. 

 
30.12.2006 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

L 400/79 

Activities 

The JRC activities will focus on: 

1) 

nuclear waste management and environmental impact, aiming to understand the nuclear 

fuel processes from production 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 actinides; 

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 coordinate, 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; 

 
L 400/80 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

30.12.2006 

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). 

 
 
30.12.2006 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

L 400/81 

ANNEX II 

FUNDING SCHEMES 

Subject to the rules for participation established for the implementation of the Seventh Framework 

Programme, the Community 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 entities within Member States or fully associated 

third countries which provide for the execution of part of the Community 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; 

 
 
L 400/82 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

30.12.2006 

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. 

 
30.12.2006 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

L 400/83 

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 developing 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. 

 
 
L 400/84 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

30.12.2006 

2. 

Networks of excellence 

Support to joint research programmes implemented by a number of research 

organisations integrating their activities in a given field, carried out by research 

teams in the framework of longer-term cooperation. The implementation 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. 

 
30.12.2006 

EN 

Official Journal of the European Union 

L 400/85 

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 particular 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 regions1 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.