COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the document REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL Specific Monitoring Report on research activities for nuclear safety and security supported by the Euratom Framework Programme 2012 – 2013
Date: 2013-05-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Framework Programme for Research and Development, Japan, nuclear accident, nuclear energy, nuclear fission, nuclear research, nuclear safety, radiation protection, scientific research

EUROPEAN 
COMMISSION 

Brussels, 27.5.2013  
SWD(2013) 187 final 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 
Accompanying the document 

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 

Specific Monitoring Report on research activities for nuclear safety and security 
supported by the Euratom Framework Programme 2012 – 2013 

{COM(2013) 308 final} 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
  
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. 

2. 

2.1 

2.2 

3. 

3.1 

3.2 

4. 

4.1 

4.2 

4.3 

5. 

Rationale ...................................................................................................................... 2 

Background (up to end of 2011) .................................................................................. 2 

DG RTD - indirect actions ........................................................................................... 3 

DG JRC - direct actions ............................................................................................... 6 

Research activities supporting nuclear safety launched under Euratom Framework 
Programme (2012-13) ................................................................................................ 10 

DG RTD - indirect actions ......................................................................................... 10 

DG JRC - direct actions ............................................................................................. 12 

Evolution of R&D activities under Euratom programme (direct and indirect actions)
.................................................................................................................................... 15 

Collaborative research................................................................................................ 15 

Direct research ........................................................................................................... 16 

Latest developments................................................................................................... 17 

Conclusions ................................................................................................................ 18 

This  report  outlines  direct  and  indirect  research  activities  that  were  carried  out  during  the 
Euratom  Framework  Programme  for  research  and  training  activities  (2012-2013).  Those 
activities  should  be  placed  in  the  context  of  the  different  events  that  occurred  during  this 
period and in particular the Fukushima accident in Japan. 

This  report  covers  only  the  safety  and  security  research  related  to  nuclear  fission  and 
radiation  protection.  It  excludes  activities  related  to  fusion,  which  is  a  technology  still  far 
from reaching a demonstration phase. 

EN 

2 

   EN 

Specific Monitoring Report  
on research activities for nuclear safety and security  
supported by the Euratom Framework Programme 2012 – 2013 

1. 

RATIONALE 

The rationale for this report, in accordance with the Council decision concerning the Euratom 
Framework  Programme  for  2012-20131,  hereinafter  FP7+2,  is  that  the  Commission  should 
prepare "in early 2013 a specific monitoring report, to be presented to the Council, dedicated 
to  the  implementation  of  nuclear  safety  and  security  research  activities  of  the  Framework 
Programme".  The  specific  monitoring  report  constitutes  an  important  deliverable  that  the 
Council could consider when examining the proposal for the Euratom part of Horizon 2020. 
Nuclear  safety  and  security  are  key  priorities  of  the  European  Union  energy  policy2,3,4.  The 
Euratom  nuclear  safety  and  security  research  activities  cover  a  field  wider  than  the  use  of 
nuclear  energy  for  production  of  electricity  and  in  particular,  include  the  use  of  ionising 
radiation for applications in research, industry and health. Continuous research on safety and 
security  is  a  prerequisite  for  the  implementation  of  the  Euratom  Treaty,  which  aims  at 
improving the standard of life of citizens in Member States in the fields where nuclear energy 
plays  a  role.  The  current  Euratom  research  orientations  in  the  domain  of  nuclear  safety  and 
security  have  been  defined  in  the  Euratom  Framework  Programme  for  nuclear  research  and 
training  for  the  period  2012  to  2013.  The  Specific  Programmes,  linked  to  the  Framework 
Programme, define in more detail the activities to be implemented by the direct actions of the 
Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the indirect actions of DG RTD.  
Research on nuclear safety applies to the full range of provisions from the design of nuclear 
installations  to  their  operation  and  final  decommissioning  including  the  disposal  of 
radioactive  waste.  They  are  aimed  at  protecting  people  and  the  environment  against  the 
adverse  effects  of  ionising  radiation.  Radiation  safety  applies  to  the  safe  use  of  ionising 
radiation for medical imaging and therapy as well as the use of radiation sources for industrial 
radiography.  Research  on  nuclear  security  encompasses  the  fields  of  verification,  detection 
and  prevention  of  proliferation  as  well  as  detection  of  and  response  to  malevolent  acts 
involving nuclear and radioactive materials. Nuclear security is exclusively addressed within 
the direct actions. 

2. 

BACKGROUND (UP TO END OF 2011)  

The Euratom Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) was 
created  to  coordinate  the  Member  States'  (MS)  programmes  to  develop  the  peaceful  use  of 
nuclear  energy.  The  Euratom  Treaty  today  continues  to  help  pooling  knowledge, 
infrastructure, and funding of nuclear energy research. 

1 
2 

3 

4 

Article 6(1) of the Council Decision 2012/93/Euratom of 19 December 2011. 
Directive 2009/71/EURATOM establishing a Community framework for the nuclear safety of nuclear 
installations 
Directive  2011/70/EURATOM  establishing  a  Community  framework  for  the  responsible  and  safe 
management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, adopted by the Council of the European Union on 19 
July 2011 
Basic  Safety  Standards  Directive  sets  out  standards  for  radiation  protection  in  the  Member  States, 
Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 laying down basic safety standards for the protection 
of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation 

EN 

3 

   EN 

                                                 
The 7th Euratom Framework Programme5 was set out to develop Euratom research activities, 
under two specific programmes for direct and indirect actions. The first specific programme, 
managed by DG RTD, covers 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 covers the activities of the JRC in the field of nuclear energy which were divided 
in  three  main  categories:  (a)  nuclear  waste  management,  environmental  impact;  (b)  nuclear 
safety; and (c) nuclear security. 

2.1 

DG RTD - indirect actions 

The  general  objective  of  the  Specific  Programme  implementing  the  Euratom  Seventh 
Framework Programme (FP7) for nuclear research and training activities (2007 to 2011)  6 in 
nuclear fission and radiation protection reads as follows: "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". The main activities are described below. 

2.1.1.  Management of radioactive waste 

European research and training programmes on radioactive waste management have 
been  implemented  since  1975  under  the  provisions  of  the  Euratom  Treaty.  A  key 
principle  of  these  programmes  is  the  support  for  EU  collaborative  activities  in 
implementation  of  safe  and  publicly  acceptable  solutions  in  the  processing  and 
disposal  of  radioactive  waste.  While  disposal  of  short-lived  low  and  intermediate 
level waste has reached industrial maturity, there is world-wide that deep geological 
disposal  represents  the  safest  and  most  sustainable  solution  for  the  management  of 
high-level waste and spent fuel considered as waste.  

scientific  and 

technological  aspects 

Following  more  than  30  years  of  research,  FP7  has  focussed  its  support  on  all 
for  actual 
remaining  key 
implementation  of  deep  geological  repositories.  Through  the  EC  support  (about  33 
M€) of fifteen (15) projects, the progra mme has sought the continuing development 
of  a  common  understanding  of  the  scientific  issues  in  supporting  coordination  and 
joint  implementation  of  priority  research.  One  notable  success  has  been  the 
establishment of the Implementing Geological Disposal Technology Platform (IGD-
TP)  in  2009,  managed  by  the  leading  European  radioactive  waste  management 
organisations,  with  the  objective  of  sustaining  a  long-term  joint  strategic  research 
agenda. 

required 

2.1.2.  Reactor systems 

The  European  Union  (EU)  promotes  high  safety  standards  in  all  types  of  civilian 
nuclear activities, including nuclear power production. EU Nuclear safety standards 
are  based  on  the  requirements  of  the  main  international  agreements,  namely  the 

5 

6 

Council  decision  of  18  December  2006  (2006/970/EURATOM)  concerning  the  Seventh  Framework 
Programme  of  the  European  Atomic  Energy  Community  (Euratom)  for  nuclear  research  and  training 
activities (2007 to 2011). 
Council  decision  of  19  December  2006  (2006/976/Euratom)  concerning  the  specific  programme 
implementing  the  Seventh  Framework  Programme  of  the  European  Atomic  Energy  Community 
(Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities (2007 to 2011). 

EN 

4 

   EN 

                                                 
Convention  on  Nuclear  Safety  and  the  Safety  Fundamentals  established  by  the 
International  Atomic  Energy  Agency  (IAEA).  The  Western  European  Nuclear 
Regulators Association (WENRA) is also supporting to develop a common approach 
to nuclear safety, to provide an independent capability to examine nuclear safety in 
applicant countries and to be a network of chief nuclear safety regulators in Europe 
exchanging  experience  and  discussing  significant  safety  issues.  All  EU  Member 
States are also represented within in the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group 
(ENSREG)  by  senior  officials  from  their national  regulatory  authorities or  nuclear 
safety authorities. All Member States of the EU are party to the Convention and the 
Community  established  by  the  Euratom  Treaty  shares  jurisdiction  with  Member 
States in the fields governed by the Convention.  

The research on reactor systems had two main focused areas under FP7, where forty-
one (41) projects were supported (about 129 M€ of EC funds): 

• 

• 

Nuclear  installation  safety:  RTD  in  operational  safety  of  current  and  future 
nuclear  installations,  especially  plant  life  assessment  and  management,  safety 
culture  (minimising  the  risk  of  human  and  organisational  error),  advanced 
safety assessment methodologies, instrumentation and control, and prevention 
and  mitigation  of  severe  accidents,  with  associated  activities  to  optimise 
knowledge management and maintain competence. 

Advanced  nuclear  systems:  RTD  to  improve  the  systems'  efficiency  and  to 
investigate aspects of selected advanced reactor systems in order to assess their 
potential, proliferation resistance and their effects on long-term sustainability, 
including  waste  management  aspects  (aiming  at  reducing  the  amount  and 
hazard of radioactive waste). 

In  2007,  the  Sustainable  Nuclear  Energy  Technology  Platform  (SNETP)  was 
launched with the objective to promote research, development and demonstration of 
the  nuclear  fission  technologies  necessary  to  achieve  the  goals  of  the  SET-Plan 
(European  Strategic  Energy  Technology  Plan)  in  this  field:  (i)  maintain  safety  and 
competitiveness  in  fission  technology,  (ii)  complete  the  demonstration  of  a  new 
generation  of  fission  reactors  with  increased  sustainability,  (iii)  enlarge  nuclear 
fission  applications  beyond  electricity  production.  SNETP  issued  a  Strategic 
Research Agenda (SRA) in 2009 and a deployment Strategy in 2010. 

2.1.3.  Radiation protection 

The  overall  objective  of  radiation  protection  is  to  protect  human  health  against  the 
dangers  arising  from  ionising  radiation,  resulting  from  practices  using  radiation  or 
radioactive  substances,  notably  for  medical,  industrial  and  energy  applications. 
Ionizing radiation has been used in medicine for more than a century and has proven 
to  be  an  essential  component  of  modern  medical  diagnosis  and  treatment.  The 
technology has made much progress in the past decades, in X-ray imaging, in nuclear 
medicine,  and  in  radiotherapy.  At  present,  the  overall  population  exposure  due  to 
medical procedures hugely exceeds any other man-made exposure. The protection of 
the patients and other individuals exposed in medical practice, is therefore one of a 
main priority task for the European Commission under the Health and Safety Chapter 
of the Euratom Treaty. 

The  risks  arising  from  the  acute  and  instantaneous  exposure  to  radiation  are  well 
known from studies carried out during the follow up of populations having survived 

EN 

5 

   EN 

Hiroshima  and  Nagasaki  bomb  detonations.  However,  a  wide  uncertainty  is 
associated to the risk assessment of low doses and protracted exposures. Research on 
radiation protection under FP7 is subdivided into 3 topics sharing a common baseline 
understanding  on  the  risk  associated  with  low  doses  of  ionising  radiation:  the 
medical use of ionising radiation; the protection of the environment; the preparation 
to  nuclear  accidents  and  the  management  of  post-accident  situations.  Under  FP7, 
nineteen (19) projects were supported with around 58 M€.  
Low  dose  research  was  a  topic  per  se  at  the  beginning  of  the  7th  Framework 
Programme and became progressively a cross-cutting topic of radiation protection.  

2.1.4. 

Infrastructures 

Research  infrastructures  are  an  essential  part  of  RTD  in  nuclear  and  radiological 
science  and  technology,  ranging  in  size  from  very  large  and  expensive  facilities, 
outside the reach of individual Member States, to networks of smaller facilities, but 
of  pan-European  interest,  such  as  databases,  numerical  simulation  tools  and  tissue 
banks.  

A major objective of FP7 was to provide support for key infrastructures where there 
is  clear  European  added  value  especially  in  order  to  establish  critical  mass  and  for 
the replacement of ageing research facilities. Infrastructures also make an important 
contribution  to  the  training  of  scientists  and  engineers.  The  eleven  (11)  projects 
supported under FP7 (about 22 M€ of EC fund s) contribute to maintaining the high 
standards  of  technical  achievement,  innovation  and  safety  in  the  European  nuclear 
sector,  including  in  the  medical  field  (production  of  radio-isotopes).  Under  FP7, 
Euratom also supported the development of the Jules Horowitz Reactor (JHR), which 
will  be  one  of  the  very  few  large  research  reactors  still  in  operation  in  Europe,  as 
from the start of its operation in 2017, enabling a European irradiation capacity for 
the research on structural materials and nuclear safety. 

2.1.5.  Human resources, mobility and training  

Sustaining  scientific  competence  in  Europe  on  nuclear  fission  safety  and  radiation 
protection, and making lifelong learning and borderless mobility a reality are two of 
the  objectives  of  Euratom.  Another  goal  is to  promote  a  mutual  trust,  transparency 
and  recognition  of  learning  outcomes  across  Member  States  and  their  associated 
countries.  

To ensure the highest achievable standards for nuclear education and training, a non-
profit  association  was  formed  in  September  2003:  the  European  Nuclear  Education 
Network (ENEN). FP7 supported the development of synergies between ENEN and 
national education and training networks and the European Technological Platforms. 
In  this  context,  six  Euratom  Fission  Training  Schemes  (EFTS)  have  been  launched 
during  the  period  2007-2011.  A  regional  centre  of  competence  for  the  safety  of 
VVER reactors of Russian design and in operation in some Members States was also 
established to provide a structure for training and qualification of personnel working 
at these reactors, in line with the standards of the IAEA. On 16 September 2011, the 
EC adopted  the  1st  Situation  Report  on  Education  and  Training  in  the  Nuclear 
Energy Field in the European Union. The report provides a comprehensive picture of 
the situation of human resources in the nuclear energy sector in the EU, identifies the 
current  challenges,  and  presents  the  spectrum  of  both  current and  planned  EU, 
national and international initiatives in this field. 

EN 

6 

   EN 

2.1.6.  Cross-cutting actions 

The  FP7  addressed  different  cross-cutting  issues  relevant  for  different  parts  of  the 
programme.  The  most  important  area  in  this  respect  is  materials  for  nuclear 
installations. In  2009-2010  the  establishment  of  the  Joint  Programme  of  the 
European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) on materials for nuclear was supported. 
In  2010-2011  Euratom  contributed  to  elaboration  of  the  “Materials  Roadmap 
Enabling  Low  Carbon  Energy  Technologies”. Euratom  also  actively  supported 
another strategic issue, namely the use of high power computing for nuclear safety. 

In  summary,  under  FP7  (2007-2011)  ninety-nine  (99)  collaborative  projects  have 
been  supported,  for  a  budget  of  about  250  M€,  the  large  majority  of  which  being 
safety-oriented. 

Waste

Reactor 
Systems

Radiation 
Protection

Infrastructures

Human 
Resources & 
Training

Cross-cutting 
Actions

TOTAL

Number of projects

15

41

19

11

9

4

99

FP7

Project EC 
Contribution (€)

33.588.092

128.753.640

58.549.398

21.660.954

6.717.078

1.503.257

250.772.420

2.2 

DG JRC - direct actions 

Nuclear safety and security have always been the focus for the JRC's nuclear activities. The 
general objective of the FP7 Specific Programme covering the activities of the Joint Research 
Centre was:  

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. 

The  main  activities  of  the  JRC  were  linked  to  supporting  both  Commission  and  Member 
States  within  Euratom  obligations  in  the  field  of:  nuclear  waste  management  and 
environmental impact; safety of nuclear installations and the fuel cycle; and nuclear security, 
safeguards  and  non-proliferation.  Cross-cutting  activities  such  as  international  cooperation, 
standardisation, and education and training were also performed throughout FP7. Within each 
topic  research  and  development  was  pursued,  developing  scientific/technical  data  and  in 
specific cases, support to Euratom policy was delivered. The work programme was aligned so 
as to maintain a good balance between scientific outputs, stakeholder-requested deliverables 
and  ad-hoc  policy  support.  A  short  description  and  few  examples  of  the  activities  in  each 
domain are described below7: 

7 

For more details on the JRC work programme : http://projects.jrc.ec.europa.eu 

EN 

7 

   EN 

    
   
    
      
        
         
        
 
                                                 
2.2.1  Nuclear safety 

The nuclear safety activities within FP7 were linked to: 

Nuclear  reactor  safety,  nuclear  fuel  safety  in  power  reactors  operating  in  the  EU; 
the safe operation of advanced energy systems 

In  2008  the  JRC  developed  a  new  initiative  on  Nuclear  Power  Plants  (NPPs) 
providing operational feedback in cooperation with the EU nuclear national nuclear 
safety  authorities.  This  initiative,  called  “EU  Nuclear  Safety  Clearinghouse  for 
Operational  Experience  Feedback”,  organised  via  a  network  of  EU  regulators  and 
their  Technical  Support  Organizations  (TSOs),  is  operated  by  a  centralised  office 
located  at  the  JRC.  This  allows  the  leveraging  of  resources  (experts,  data)  for 
technical  work  and  further  enhanced  cooperation.  In  this  frame  the  JRC  delivered 
regular topical reports on subjects important to the safe operation of EU NPPs, and 
published  quarterly  reports  on  worldwide  NPP  operational  events.  The  JRC  also 
provided  continuous  support  to  DG  DEVCO  and  DG  ELARG  on  safety 
improvements  for  both  western  and  Russian  type  of  NPPs  of  neighbourhood 
countries,  as  well  as  on  nuclear  issues  for  pre-accession  countries.  Nuclear  safety 
research  also  addressed  the  performance  /  degradation  of  structural  materials  of 
importance  for  safety  for  present  and  innovative  nuclear  reactor  systems.  In  this 
context  JRC  was  one  of  the  driving  forces  for  the  establishment  of  the  EERA 
(European  Energy  research  Alliance).  The  JRC  performed  post 
irradiation 
examinations  of  safety  related  fuel  properties  at  high  burn-up  and  tested  properties 
and  behaviour  of  nuclear  fuel  under  extreme  conditions,  encompassing  normal  and 
accident conditions. By so doing the JRC continued to strengthen its involvement in 
the European Research Area by supporting the Member States in the establishment 
of  new  projects  that  aim  at  improving  the  nuclear  fuel  safety  of  current  and 
innovative fuels, as well as of alternative fuel cycles. 

Cooperation  with  Member  States  was  pursued,  with  international  strategic  partners 
and organisations (e.g. OECD/NEA, IAEA). The JRC has played an important role 
as  the  coordinator  of  the  Euratom  contribution  to  the  Generation  IV  International 
Forum  (GIF).  In  this  role  the  JRC  focussed  on:  the  execution  of  pre-normative 
Research and Development into harmonised testing procedures and design codes for 
advanced  nuclear  reactor  systems;  advanced  nuclear  fuels,  system  integration 
capability; and evaluation methods to assess and compare safety and performance of 
next generation concepts.  

The  JRC  also  started  an  EU-wide  monitoring  on  training  and  education  needs  on 
human  resources  in  the  nuclear  sector.  Through  the  European  Human  Resource 
Observatory  -  Nuclear  (EHRO-N),  it  analysed  the  supply  and  demand  for  nuclear 
experts in the EU and contributed to the development of the "1st Situation Report on 
Education and Training in the Nuclear Energy Field in the European Union". 

EN 

8 

   EN 

2.2.2  Nuclear security 

The nuclear security activities were linked to: 

Nuclear  safeguards,  additional  protocol,  open  source  information  on  nuclear  non-
proliferation,  combating  illicit  trafficking  of  nuclear  materials,  including  nuclear 
forensic analysis 

The R&D in nuclear security, safeguards and non-proliferation at JRC continued to 
be oriented towards the needs of its main customers. These are within the European 
Commission,  in  particular  DG  ENER  (Euratom  safeguard  inspectorates),  the 
Member States and the IAEA. 

Nuclear  safeguards:  The  JRC  supported  DG  ENER  and  IAEA  activities  on 
destructive  analysis  by  developing  dedicated  techniques  and  instrumentation  and 
providing  its  analytical  services  at  its  laboratories.  The  JRC’s  in-house  expertise 
continued  to  contribute  to  standardisation  and  innovation  by  developing  material 
standards  and  reference  methods  as  well  as  documentary  standards.  In  the  field  of 
non-destructive  assay,  JRC  pursued  investigations  of  suitable  technologies  for 
Helium-3  replacements  (due  to  its  shortage)  by  testing  the  performances  of 
innovative  neutron  sensors  and  by  analysing  their  possible  application  to  nuclear 
detection instruments.  

JRC  developed  and  produced  seals  for  both  Euratom  and  IAEA  inspectorates.  In 
parallel,  continuous  improvements  were  made  to  the  existing  design  of  the  JRC 
Candu  Sealing  System.  In  support  to  the  safeguards  inspectors  the  JRC  undertook 
R&D on process monitoring and the modelling of material flows at nuclear facilities, 
including  laser-based  systems  to  create  accurate  3D  models  of  nuclear  facilities  as 
well as specific global in-field information instruments. 

Additional  Protocol:  Environmental  sampling  and  support  to  inter-laboratory 
analyses  were  regularly  performed  by  the  JRC.  In  the  field  of  trade  analysis  and 
export  control,  the  JRC  supported  DG  TRADE  with  different  types  of  activities 
concerning harmonisation of implementation. This included technical support to the 
amendment  of  EU  regulation  for  dual  use  goods  as  well  as  a  contribution  to 
International  regimes  and  EU  control  lists  review.  The  JRC  has  also  actively 
contributed to all proliferation resistance activities within GIF as well as the IAEA. 

Open  Source  information  on  nuclear  non-proliferation:  To  help  verifying  the 
compliance of a country with its nuclear safeguards obligations, JRC has developed 
and has been operating a “Nuclear Security Media Monitor” (NSMM), a web-based 
multilingual news aggregation system that automatically collects news articles from 
pre-defined web sites, and groups them into various areas of interest. 

Combating  illicit  trafficking  of  nuclear  materials,  including  nuclear  forensic 
analysis: In this area, the JRC activities are mainly focused on the detection of, and 
response to (including nuclear forensics), theft, sabotage, unauthorized access, illegal 
transfer or other malicious acts involving nuclear or other radioactive substances or 
their associated facilities. In the field of detection, the JRC has supported DG HOME 
and  the  Member  States,  in  managing  the  ongoing  ITRAP+10  (Illicit  Trafficking 
Radiation Assessment Programme) project for testing equipment for the detection of 
radioactive/nuclear material against international standards.  

EN 

9 

   EN 

The JRC Pulsed Neutron Interrogation Assay PUNITA was used for the evaluation 
of active neutron interrogation for the detection of fissile materials (mainly Uranium 
235).  In  the  field  of  Nuclear  Forensics,  the  JRC  has  developed  and  refined 
experimental techniques for the age dating of small samples of uranium, and engaged 
in  the  production  of  the  first  uranium  reference  material  certified  for  the  chemical 
separation date of thorium from uranium. A novel age dating method has been also 
developed and tested as a complementary technique. On behalf of the EU, the JRC is 
coordinating the following at the international level: the Border Monitoring Working 
Group  (BMWG)  established  between  the  US,  the  EU  and  IAEA  in  the  field  of 
detection; the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group (ITWG) in 
the field of nuclear forensics. 

Training  and  Education:  Dedicated  training  sessions  on  different  safeguards 
techniques  and  methods  were  organised  by  the  JRC  for  Euratom  and  IAEA 
inspectors. More specifically, training courses were organised in High Performance 
Trace Analysis, and on the use of analytical techniques developed by JRC for in-field 
uranium determination at Low Enriched Uranium fuel fabrication plants. Training on 
advanced  mass  spectrometry  measurement  techniques  was  also  given  at  the 
Safeguards  Analytical  Services  (SGAS).  Other  courses  provided  included:  the 
regular  annual  ESARDA  courses  on  Nuclear  Safeguards  and  Non-Proliferation, 
training events in collaboration with US DOE NNSA in the field of export control, 
and  training  and  workshops  for  front-line  officers  were  delivered  in  the  field  of 
nuclear security. 

2.2.3  Nuclear waste management and environmental impact,  

As  specified  in  the  FP7  Specific  Programme,  the  waste  management  and 
environmental impact activities were linked to: 

Spent  fuel  characterisation,  storage  and  disposal;  partitioning,  transmutation  and 
conditioning;  basic  actinide  research;  nuclear  data;  medical  applications  from 
nuclear  research;  measurement  of  radioactivity  in  the  environment;  knowledge 
management and training and education 

The JRC performed research for high level nuclear waste management, especially in 
the field of the direct disposal of spent fuel, and partitioning and transmutation. The 
basic  research  into  actinides  continued  to  improve  knowledge  on  the  processing  or 
conditioning  of  long-lived  waste  minor  actinides  separation  and  complexation 
behaviour.  In  addition  the  JRC  provided  data  and  analysed  surface  corrosion  and 
dissolution  mechanisms  concerning  spent  nuclear  fuel,  instant  release  fractions, 
reduction-oxidation  conditions  in  the  aqueous  phase,  and  microstructure  properties. 
The  research  also  focussed  on  the  experimental  investigation  of  the  fission  process 
and  its  theoretical  models.  Nuclear  data  research  produced  high  quality,  new 
experimental data for specific neutron-induced reactions which are of interest to the 
safety  of reactors and spent  fuel and  to the  minimisation  of  nuclear  waste.  Regular 
support  to  IAEA  and  OECD/NEA  was  provided  by  delivering  evaluated  physical 
data  to  the  Joint  Evaluated  Fission  and  Fusion  library.  In  this  context  the  JRC 
continued to have a prominent and leading role in all FP7 indirect actions relevant to 
the generation of nuclear data. 

In the frame of medical applications a range of new techniques were developed. This 
included  Targeted  Alpha  Therapy  for  cancer  treatment,  as  well  as  alternative 

EN 

10 

   EN 

methods  for  the  production  of  radionuclides  and  chelate  molecules,  and  labelling 
protocols for clinical application. The JRC also reported regularly on environmental 
radioactivity in the EU Member states as well as performing continuous monitoring. 
Inter-laboratory comparisons for instrumentation that monitor radioactivity in water, 
soil,  and  food  were  performed  to  improve  the  reliability  and  comparability  of 
measurement results reported under Articles 35 and 36 of the Euratom Treaty.  

The  EURDEP  (European  Radiological  Data  Exchange  Platform)  developed  and 
operated by the JRC proved to be an effective tool for the exchange of radioactivity 
monitoring information during the 2011 Fukushima event. 

training  courses  were  continuously  delivered  during  FP7 

Laboratory 
in 
radiochemistry,  on  measurement  capability  in  ionizing  radiation  metrology  and  in 
mass  spectrometry  for  practitioners  from  south-east  European  and  neighbourhood 
policy  countries  (JRC  Enlargement  &  Integration  action).  Furthermore,  to  counter 
the loss of knowledge and expertise in the nuclear field, the JRC acted as a European 
reference  centre  for  the  dissemination  of  information,  training  and  education  for 
young  scientists  and  provided  user  access  to  its  nuclear  infrastructures.  The  JRC 
laboratories  continued  to  provide  transnational  access  to  their  facilities  for 
researchers from the Member States. 

3. 

RESEARCH  ACTIVITIES  SUPPORTING  NUCLEAR  SAFETY  LAUNCHED  UNDER 
EURATOM FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME (2012-13) 

After  the  Fukushima  accidents  in  2011,  the  general  objective  of  FP7+2  was  refocused  on 
nuclear safety and security. As a consequence, the name of the thematic area was changed to 
nuclear fission, safety and radiation protection. The main impact on the objectives was that 
R&D on advanced nuclear systems should concentrate on safety only. 

3.1 

DG RTD - indirect actions 

Following  two  calls  for  proposals  under  FP7+2,  thirty-three  (33)  new  collaborative  projects 
are being supported, for a budget of about 109 M€, representing abou t 44% of the first part of 
FP7. 

Waste

Reactor 
Systems

Radiation 
Protection

Infrastructures

Human 
Resources & 
Training

Cross-cutting 
Actions

TOTAL

Number of projects

3

12

6

3

4

5

33

FP7+2

Project EC 
Contribution (€)

14.003.520

47.731.639

24.826.000

12.700.000

5.948.000

4.222.068

109.431.227

The  collaborative  projects  selected  are  more  focused  and  stimulate  a  better  joint  European 
approach, which explains that their size is in average 30% bigger than for those of FP7. 

3.1.1  Management of ultimate radioactive waste 

Under  the  umbrella  of  IGD-TP,  two  large  projects  have  been  funded  to  solve  key 
issues for geological disposal. The first one is a Full Scale Demonstration of Plugs 
and  Seals,  to  demonstrate  the  compliance  of  reference  design  basis  of  these 
techniques  in  deep  geological  disposal  facilities.  The  second  one  develops 
understanding  of  the  generation  and  release  of  the  Carbon-14  source  term  from 
radioactive  waste  materials  under  conditions  relevant  to  waste  packaging  and 
disposal.  The successful implementation  of  IGD-TP  will help reducing  the  practice 
of  spent  fuel  storage  on  reactor  sites  and  thereby  increasing  the  safety  of  nuclear 
installations. 

EN 

11 

   EN 

    
     
    
      
        
         
        
 
3.1.2 

Reactor systems 

the  Fukushima  event,  SNETP  published  a  report  entitled 
Few  months  after 
"Identification  of  Research  Areas  in  Response  to  the  Fukushima  Accident".  In 
parallel, SNETP issued in February 2013 a revised version of the SRA, the Strategic 
Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), focusing on nuclear safety.  

The Euratom work programmes 2012 and 2013 gave also total emphasis on nuclear 
safety, in particular on the management of possible severe accident at the European 
level.  Two  priority  topics  emerged:  (i)  impact  of  the  nuclear  accident  in  Japan  on 
severe  accident  management  and  (ii)  consequences  of  combination  of  extreme 
external events on the safety of Nuclear Power Plants. As a result, three collaborative 
projects were funded on (a) the investigation of passive and active systems on severe 
accident  mitigation  and  enhanced  safety  of  future  reactors,  (b)  the  upgrade  of  the 
computer code for European severe accident management and (c) the establishment 
of best practice guidelines for the identification of consequences of combination of 
extreme external events on the safety of nuclear power plants. Another project was 
funded  to  complete  the  roadmap  of  a  European  informatics  platform  to  perform 
multi-scale  and  multi-physics  computation  for  the  safety  of  existing  reactors.  The 
emphasis on nuclear safety was also reflected in the selection of two projects, one on 
minor actinide separation processes from high level waste for the global safety of the 
long-lived  waste  management and the  other on the safety of the MYRRHA project 
for  which  two  main  types  of  accident,  the  uncontrolled  power  excursion  and  the 
residual heat removal after reactor shutdown should be surpassed. In the 2013 call, 
three additional projects were selected for funding a preparatory phase, which should 
aim  at  optimal  coordination,  cross-border  operation  and  possible  integration  of 
national research actions of pan-European interest in the field of nuclear fission and 
safety. 

3.1.3 

Radiation protection 

Due  to  the  condensation  of  radioactive  vapours  on  the  containment  structures  of 
damaged  Fukushima  reactors  and  meteorological  conditions,  exposures  to  the 
population remained in the range of low dose. But the exposed populations as well as 
consumers of goods originating from Japan are legitimate to raise questions about the 
risk from low dose and long term exposures. As a result of the Euratom call in 2012, 
a project was selected for funding, which establishes an innovative integrative set of 
tools for the preparedness to radiological emergencies and post-accident response in 
Europe. The cross cutting nature of low dose research is also reflected in the support 
provided  to  research  on  the  contamination  of  the  food  chain  and  the  environment. 
Moreover,  these  two  fields  have  been  integrated  to  the  Multidisciplinary  European 
Low  Dose  Initiative  to  foster  coordination  of  Member  State  research  and  EU 
research in radiation protection. In doing so, the basic scientific evidence necessary 
to appraise the overall risk from ionising radiation, for people, the environment and 
food products will be gathered in a more comprehensive manner. 

3.1.4 

Infrastructures 

Support  to  large  infrastructures  was  obviously  continued  in  FP7+2  and  the 
MYRRHA project was retained as a priority topic in order to bring it to the level of 
maturity  required  to  enable  the  construction  work  to  start.  This  will  be  a  multi-
purpose  infrastructure  enabling  notably  efficient  research  for  nuclear  waste 
management  and  materials  science.  Two  projects  on  transnational  access  to  large 

EN 

12 

   EN 

infrastructures were also funded, one for the safe management of actinides (the most 
constraining radionuclides in radioactive waste management), and the other on data 
management for nuclear safety and nuclear applications. 

3.1.5  Human Resources and training  

The launching of Euratom Fission Training Schemes (EFTS) has been continued in 
FP7+2 in four areas: nuclear safety, diagnostic and interventional radiology, nuclear 
chemistry,  radioactive  waste  disposal.  A  new  project  also  contributes  to  increasing 
nuclear safety competence, drawing the lessons from Fukushima, related to cultural 
issues and integrating the scientific and socio-economical view point.  

3.1.6  Cross-cutting  actions,  support  to  new  Member  States  and  cooperation  with  Third 

Countries 

FP7+2  continued  providing  the  support  for  the  nuclear  materials  science  field,  as 
well  as  for  numerical  simulation  tools.  Support  was  also  provided  for  activities 
leading to a greater involvement of New Member States, representing an increase of 
funding  by  a  factor  of  more  than  2.5.  Ultimately,  these  activities  contribute  to  the 
dissemination  of  the  safety  culture  across  the  EU.  A  structured  dialogue  was  also 
reinforced, under the umbrella of bilateral cooperation agreements, with Russia and 
China, and with other third Countries, e.g. USA (in the context of the EU-US Energy 
Council) and Ukraine.  

3.2 

DG JRC - direct actions 

JRC's  2012  activities  further  focussed  along  the  orientations  already  taken  in  2011  as  an 
immediate  response  to  the  Fukushima  Event.  A  high  priority  within  the  JRC  was  therefore 
given to the support to the implementation of the EU NPP "Stress tests" that followed. Other 
topics  such  as  research  in  decommissioning,  and  providing  a  major  contribution  to  the 
implementation  of  the  EU-CBRN  (Chemical  Biological  Radiological  Nuclear)  Action  plan 
were also set as new priorities. The section below gives some examples of JRC activities in 
2012: 

3.2.1  Nuclear safety 

The  EU  "stress  tests"  were  the  main  reaction  of  the  EU  to  the  Fukushima  nuclear 
accident. The nuclear stress tests were organized under the umbrella of ENSREG, the 
European Nuclear Safety Regulators' Group gathering the EC and the nuclear Safety 
Authorities of the 27 EU Member States. The stress tests consisted of 3 main steps: 
self-assessment  by  each  NPP  licensee,  review  at  national  level  by  each  national 
nuclear Safety Authority, and a final international peer review of the national reports 
and  country  visits.  Seventeen  European  countries  were  peer  reviewed.  The  JRC 
provided  staff  for  technical  and  administrative  support  throughout  the  whole  peer 
review process which lasted the whole year. JRC staff participated in each NPP visit 
organised  and  supported  the  development  of  relevant  peer  review  reports.  The 
accident underlined the need to better assess plant behaviour beyond the design base 
accidental conditions. In response, a new activity has been established in the JRC to 
underpin  research  and  to  build  expertise  in  nuclear  accident  modelling.  Active 
participation in the OECD/NEA Accident Management group has also been pursued 
on issues identified in the EU Stress test such as Filtered Venting System and Spent 
Fuel Pools. JRC also initiated a project to examine spent fuel behaviour in accidental 
conditions similar to the ones experienced in Fukushima and a longer term project on 
cross comparisons and analysis of nuclear accidents. 

EN 

13 

   EN 

3.2.2  Nuclear security 

The nuclear security, safeguards and non-proliferation activities at JRC continued to 
be  oriented  towards  the  needs  of  its  main  customers  in  the  EC,  the  Member  States 
and  the  IAEA.  In  particular  the  European  Commission  Cooperative  Support 
Programme to the IAEA provided technology and expertise in technical areas related 
to  the  effective  implementation  of  safeguards  verification  measures,  including  the 
detection of undeclared materials, activities, and facilities. Strong collaboration was 
the  US-DoE.  A  Memoranda  of 
further  developed  between 
Understanding  with  Japan  was  extended.  JRC  also  continued  to  contribute  to  the 
Instrument  for  Nuclear  Safety  Cooperation,  including  safeguards,  and  to  the  IfS 
(Instrument  for  Stability,  including  the  non-proliferation  work).  More  recently 
support was delivered to DG HOME via the implementation of the EU CBRN action 
plan. Support was also given to DG TRADE and DG  TAXUD  on  issues related to 
trade analysis and border control.  

the  JRC  and 

Due to its central role in the field, the JRC has coordinated the development of the 
reference  document8  for  the  EU  participation  to  the  Seoul  2012  Nuclear  Security 
Summit. 

Nuclear  Safeguards:  In  the  context  of  destructive  analysis,  the  JRC  continued  to 
support DG ENER’s on-site labs in Sellafield and La Hague as well as continuing to 
support IAEA activities. More specifically, a new state-of-the-art thermal ionisation 
mass spectrometer (TIMS) instrument was installed and commissioned at the on-site 
lab  in  Sellafield  (UK)  in  2012.  The  JRC  actively  contributed  to  the  compilation  of 
the  International  Target  Values  for  Measurement  Uncertainties  in  Safeguarding 
Nuclear Materials document and provided Euratom safeguards, IAEA and Japan with 
the necessary certified nuclear reference materials. In the frame of material standards 
and reference methods, the JRC presented a recently developed "memory corrected 
double standard" (MCDS) technique for accurate isotopic measurements. In the field 
of non-destructive assay, a prototype of a neutron well coincidence counter based on 
liquid  scintillators  was  designed  in  collaboration  with  the  IAEA.  In  2012,  the  JRC 
developed  for  DG  ENER  and  IAEA  its  indoor  and  outdoor  Design  Information 
Verification  (DIV)  laser-based  systems  to  create  accurate  3D  models  of  nuclear 
facilities  as  well  as  of  infield  tools  for  the  safeguards  investigative  inspector.  The 
JRC implemented and demonstrated a prototype system of a multi-functional hand-
held device equipped with positioning sensors and a combined real-time 2D/3D data 
capture to assist inspectors in performing a complementary access inspection.  

In  2012,  in  the  frame  of  process  monitoring  and  modelling  of  material  flows  at 
nuclear  facilities,  the  JRC  performed  R&D  on  the  follow-up  of  itemised  Nuclear 
Materials, and on tank calibration methods. In parallel, the monitoring of load cells 
in Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plants was studied. 

Nuclear Non Proliferation: In 2012 the JRC has inaugurated the Large Geometry - 
Secondary  Ion  Mass  Spectrometry,  a  tool  which  greatly  improves  the  accuracy  for 
uranium  isotope  measurements  for  the  verification  of  the  absence  of  undeclared 
activities.  The  JRC  also  organised  an  inter-laboratory  comparison,  NUSIMEP-7 
(Nuclear  Signatures  Inter-lab  Measurement  Evaluation  Programme)  focusing  on 
in  uranium  particles  and 
isotope  amount  ratios 
measurements  of  uranium 

8 

"EU efforts to strengthen nuclear security" – SWD(2012)70 final 

EN 

14 

   EN 

                                                 
underpinned  the  recent  advances  in  instrumental  techniques  in  the  field  of  particle 
analysis. 

Combating  illicit  trafficking  of  nuclear  materials,  including  supporting  for 
implementation  of  EU  CBRN  related  policies:  As  an  example  of  cooperation  with 
Member States and international laboratories in the field of illicit trafficking, the JRC 
during  2012  launched  an  inter-comparison  exercise  on  age  dating  of  “young” 
uranium  materials.  Moreover,  the  JRC  is  currently  carrying  out  a  study  on  the 
development of plutonium reference materials for measuring reliably the separation 
of plutonium from its daughter nuclides. Within the frame of the implementation of 
the EU-CBRN Action plan, in 2012 several new actions have been allocated to JRC 
which cover major areas of security concern. For example, the JRC is working with 
the IAEA on the improvement of its Illicit Trafficking Data Base (ITDB),  working 
with the Member States on the screening and eventually benchmarking the existing 
modelling  tools  used  for  the  dispersion  of  radioactivity  at  urban  scale  in  case  of 
incident. Under the IfS, the JRC provided the technical support to DG DEVCO for 
the implementation of the CBRN Centres of Excellence initiative. The EU has also 
been supporting the project "Enhancing the Capabilities of the International Atomic 
Energy Agency Safeguards Analytical Services" (IAEA-ECAS) from the Instrument 
for Stability for the construction of the new nuclear material laboratory. 

Training and education: Training on different safeguards/nuclear security techniques 
continued and in 2012 more than 25 training events were organised. In the field of 
nuclear security, the European Nuclear Security Training Centre (EUSECTRA) has 
been established with the support of DG HOME and in  2012  the infrastructure has 
been upgraded to provide a dedicated facility for regular trainings. 

3.2.3  Nuclear waste management and environmental impact 

As a consequence of Fukushima, and in response to the EU Parliament demand for 
work  on  decommissioning  in  November  2012,  the  JRC  organised  a  high  level 
roundtable on “Scientific support for nuclear decommissioning” to identify scientific 
needs,  future  prospects  and  priorities  for  European  nuclear  decommissioning 
research.  The  JRC  is  developing  a  research  programme  focussed  on:  dissemination 
of  experiences;  training  and  education;  research  on  waste  reduction  techniques; 
harmonisation  and  standardisation  of  technologies;  contamination,  characterisation 
and waste qualifications. 

The long-term storage of spent fuel beyond the original design basis raises concerns 
amongst  nuclear  stakeholders  (both  regulatory  authorities  and  industry).  In  this 
context, research is being performed on the impact of ageing on structural integrity 
during long-term storage. The JRC developed a new crash test device to simulate this 
impact  on  safety  in  accidental  conditions (e.g.  spent  fuel  pool  in  Fukushima).  Dry-
out experiments to assess the safety of storage tank of high level liquid waste during 
an accident scenario concerning the loss of coolant were performed in collaboration 
with Japan. 

After  Fukushima,  the  importance  of  a  well-organised  and  coordinated  emergency 
preparedness and response activities structure was recognised as a crucial issue in the 
management  of  a  nuclear  accident,  and  the  JRC  reinforced  its  capacities  and  its 
scientific support in this domain.  

EN 

15 

   EN 

The  JRC  also  reported  regularly  on  environmental  radioactivity  in  the  EU  Member 
states and performed continuous monitoring in close collaboration with DG ENER, 
the  Member  States’  National  Authorities  and  other  international  organisations  (e.g. 
IAEA).  Following  the  Fukushima  accident  and  the  assessment  of  the  lessons  to  be 
learned,  the  IAEA  came  to  the  conclusion  that  a  common  data  format  and  data-
exchange  protocol  to  exchange  automatic  emergency  preparedness  monitoring  data 
world-wide  would  be  highly  beneficial.  EURDEP  was  selected  by  the  IAEA  to  be 
the  technical  and  principle  basis  for  implementing  the  world-wide  system,  called 
IRMIS.  

In the frame of training and education, the JRC developed an integrated approach in 
specialised  topics  strongly  related  to  the  nuclear  fuel  cycle  for  its  training  and 
education  activity  under  the  umbrella  of  a  European  Nuclear  Safety  and  Security 
School (EN3S). 

4. 

EVOLUTION  OF  R&D  ACTIVITIES  UNDER  EURATOM  PROGRAMME  (DIRECT  AND 
INDIRECT ACTIONS)  

4.1 

Collaborative research 

As shown in the graph below, the safety related part of the Euratom programme was already 
very  high  under  FP7,  with  around  90%  share  in  four  activity  domains:  management  of 
radioactive waste, reactor systems, radiation protection and infrastructures.  

Following the re-orientation decided by the Council in 2011, the percentages in these activity 
domains  have  nevertheless  been  slightly  increased  further.  In  the  domain  of  reactor  system 
part of the funding is necessarily dedicated to coordination with non-nuclear domains, such as 
robotics and materials, which limits the scope for further increase. 

The  most  significant  increase  in  the  part  of  the  funding  dedicated  to  safety  aspects  was 
actually  achieved  in  the  activity  domains  of  human  resources  and  cross-cutting  actions, 
thereby  targeting  to  strengthen  the  European  capacity  for  the  development  of  the  basic 
necessary  knowledge  in  the  field  of  safety  and  radiation  protection.  This  is  exemplified  by 
training  initiative  organised  by  the  European  Nuclear  Education  Network  (ENEN),  and  by 

EN 

16 

   EN 

 
 
projects  SEMI-NUC  dealing  with  cohorts  of  people  exposed  to  radiation  at  the  Kazakhstan 
weapon  test  site  and  EAGLE,  a  project  dealing  with  training  and  education  in  radiation 
protection.  
This  evolution  can  also  be  noted  (see  graphs  below)  in  the  breakdown  of  the  Commission 
contribution  per  activity  domains.  The  most  significant  increase  between  FP7  and  FP7+2  is 
being observed in human resources and training and cross-cutting actions, at the expense of 
reactor systems. 

EN 

17 

   EN 

 
 
4.2 

Direct research 

As concerns the direct actions, the FP7+2 budget was spent as foreseen and was distributed 
approximately equally among the three major domains:  nuclear fuel  and  reactor safety, safe 
radioactive waste management and nuclear safeguards and security. 

The JRC resources were kept constant in 2012 but the activities were further focussed within 
the nuclear safety domain, on Fukushima related topics such as the EU Stress tests, nuclear 
accident modelling and severe accidents management. 
During  2013,  the  JRC  is  continuing  its  nuclear  activity  along  the  priorities  defined  in  2012 
which  are:  nuclear  reactor  safety,  emergency  preparedness  and  modelling,  nuclear  fuel  and 
fuel  cycle  safety,  waste  management  and  decommissioning,  nuclear  safeguards,  non-
proliferation  and  security  as  well  as  knowledge  management  and  training  and  education.  It 
will  continue  to  review  and  further  realign  its  activities  towards  the  priorities  defined  in 
Horizon 2020. 

4.3 

Latest developments 

The activities in the European Nuclear Energy Forum (ENEF) on transparency issues as well 
as the opportunities and risk of nuclear energy, and the experience of European Stress Tests 
on Nuclear Safety have also demonstrated the relevance of the contribution of civil society to 
a continuous improvement and strengthening of the safety of nuclear installations. 

The  Aarhus  Convention  establishes  a  number  of  rights  of  the  public  with  regard  to  the 
environment. Since September 2009, the European Commission and the National Association 
of  Local  Information  Commissions  and  Committees  (ANCCLI)  have  opened  a  dialogue  on 
the  practical  implementation  of  the  Aarhus  Convention  in  the  nuclear  field,  in  partnership 
with the European Forum of Nuclear Energy (ENEF) and the French Ministry of Ecology and 
Sustainable  Development.  The  European  Commission  and  the  ANCCLI  also  organized 
European Roundtables on thematic issues. The first European Roundtable was held in April 
2010  on  the  practical  implementation  of  the  Aarhus  Convention  in  the  field  of  radioactive 
waste  management.  The  second  Roundtable  addressed  issues  of  access  to  expertise  and 
capacity building and was held in January 2011. The third Roundtable took place in February 
2012  and  focused  on  issues  of  preparation  and  management  of  nuclear  and  post-nuclear 
emergencies. Following the Symposium on 26-27 February, a new event took place in March 

EN 

18 

   EN 

 
2013  on  public  participation  in  decision  making  in  the  nuclear  domain,  and  priorities  for 
future work. 

The  European  Commission  sets  transparency  as  a  high  priority  in  the  nuclear  field  and  has 
clearly indicated it in the 2011 Radioactive Waste Directive with a specific Article 10. To this 
aim,  the  Commission,  notably  through  the  JRC,  is  going  to  provide  scientific  and  technical 
support as may be required by the Member States and EU policy makers. 

5. 

CONCLUSIONS 

The  Euratom  Framework  Programme  (2012-13)  pursues  its  contribution  to  improving  the 
standard of life of citizens in Member States in the number of fields for which nuclear energy 
plays  a  role.  This  is  achieved  through  the  improvement  of  science  based  knowledge  on 
nuclear safety, on the protection of people against the adverse effects of ionising radiation and 
through  the  harmonisation  in  the  European  Union  of  scientific  references  for  a  common 
nuclear  safety  and  security  culture9,10,11.  The  Euratom  programme  supports  such  a 
harmonisation  by  promoting  research  initiatives  in  this  field  of  research  through  joint 
programming  initiatives,  successfully  launched  by  Technology  Platforms  (SNETP  and 
IGDTP) and dedicated Associations (NUGENIA and MELODI. The Commission proposed to 
continue  this  successful  approach  under  the  Euratom  Research  and  Training  Programme 
(2014-2018) complementing Horizon 202012. 
The  JRC  has  been  working  during  the  previous  and  present  Framework  Programmes  on  a 
structured work programme focussed on nuclear safety and security and was also capable to 
respond immediately to an unexpected strong demand for nuclear expertise after Fukushima, 
in particular by contributing to the EU Stress Tests exercise. The direct actions are now being 
reoriented to meet the new post Fukushima demands as well as the key objectives defined in 
Horizon2020. JRC also supports the further development of transparency in the nuclear sector 
in  particular  in  the  context  of  the  possible  application  of  the  Aarhus  Convention  in  nuclear 
field. 
After  the  Fukushima  accident  in  2011,  the  general  objective  of  the  Euratom  Framework 
Programme (FP7+2) for nuclear research and training activities (2012 to 2013) was refocused 
on nuclear safety and security, although support to safety was already very high under FP7. 

Horizon  2020  should  continue  such  approach  towards  safety  and  security  and  foster  further 
joint  programming  actions  in  cross-cutting  areas  within  Euratom  and  between  EU  and 
Euratom research to help tackling societal challenges identified in Horizon 2020. 

9 

10 

11 

12 

Directive 2009/71/EURATOM establishing a Community framework for the nuclear safety of nuclear 
installations 
Directive  2011/70/EURATOM  establishing  a  Community  framework  for  the  responsible  and  safe 
management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, adopted by the Council of the European Union on 19 
July 2011 
Basic  Safety  Standards  Directive  sets  out  standards  for  radiation  protection  in  the  Member  States, 
Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 laying down basic safety standards for the protection 
of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation 
COM (2011)812 

EN 

19 

   EN 

                                                 
Annexes 

Annex I: Projects from Indirect Actions 
Annex II: Direct Actions of 2012 and 2013 
Annex III: Extract of the European Ethics Group Report 
Annex IV: Conclusions of the Symposium 

EN 

20 

   EN 

Annex I: Projects from Indirect Actions 

Project acronym and title 

Key areas of R&D 

ALICE  –  Access  to  Large  Infrastructures  in 
China and Europa  

EU-China  cooperation  on  irradiation  of  structural  materials  for 
advanced nuclear systems  

ALISA – Access to Large Infrastructures for 
Severe Accidents  

EU-China  Large  scale  experiments  under  prototypical  conditions 
addressing severe management in LWR  

ALLIANCE  –  Preparation  of  ALLegro  - 
Implementing  Advanced  Nuclear  Fuel  Cycle 
in Central Europe 

To  focus  on  the  preparatory  phase  for  developing  ALLEGRO 
demonstrator 

ANDANTE – Multidisciplinary evaluation of 
the  cancer  risk  from  neutrons  relative  to 
photons using stem cells and the induction of 
following 
second  malignant  neoplasms 
pediatric radiation therapy  

Multidisciplinary  approach,  including  physics  measurements  and 
modelling, molecular biology, radiobiology and epidemiology  

Coordinating 
organisation & 
no of partners 

Start date & 
duration 

SCK-CEN (BE) 
5 partners (from 5 
countries)  

KIT (DE) 
2 partners (from 2 
countries)  

MTA-KFKI (HU) 
9 partners (from 6 
countries)  

01/06/2012 
48 months  

01/06/2012 
48 months  

01/10/2012 
24 months  

UNIPV (IT) 
15 partners (from 12 
countries)  

01/01/2012 
48 months  

Total  
budget / EU 
contribution 

€1.1M / 0.63M 

€1.6M / €1.0M  

€1.5M / 0.85M 

€4.2M / €3.0M  

ASAMPSA_E 
Assessment : Extended PSA 

- 

Advanced 

Safety 

To  develop  good  practices  in  identification  of  extreme  external 
events  using  PSA  level  1-2  for  decision  making  in  the  European 
context. 

IRSN (FR) 
27 partners (from 20 
countries incl. CH, 
UA)  

Under  Negotiation
36 months  

€3.7M / €3.0M  

ASGARD  –  Advanced  fuelS  for  Generation 
IV reActors, Reprocessing and Dissolution  

Cross-cutting  studies 
to  develop  compatible 
techniques  for  dissolution,  reprocessing  and  manufacturing  of  new 
nuclear fuels  

innovative  fuels 

CHALMERS (SE) 
17 partners (from 10 
countries)  

01/01/2012 
48 months  

€9.6M / €5.8M  

EN 

21 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
BELBAR – Bentonite Erosion, effects on the 
long  term  performance  of  the  engineered 
Barrier and Radionuclide Transport  

CAST – Carbon-14 Source Term  

To  increase  the  knowledge  of  processes  that  controls  clay  colloid 
stability, generation and ability to transport radio-nuclides.  

SKB (SE) 
14 partners (from 6 
countries + RU)  

01/01/2012 
48 months  

€5.2M / €2.6M  

To develop understanding of the generation and release of C14 from 
radioactive  waste  materials  under  conditions  relevant  to  waste 
packaging and disposal to underground geological disposal facilities 

NDA (UK) 
32 partners (from 15 
countries incl. CH 
and JP)  

Under negotiation 
54 months  

€14.4M / €4.5M  

CEREBRAD  –  Cognitive  and  Cerebro-
vascular  Effects  Induced  by  Low  Dose 
Ionising Radiation  

Risk  estimates  of  the  effects  from  internal  and  external  exposures 
and cancer radiotherapy initial and late effects  

SCK-CEN (BE) 
11 partners (from 10 
countries + UA)  

01/10/2011 
36 months  

€4.7M / €3.0M  

CESAM  –  Code  for  European  Severe 
Accident  Management  Fukushima  accidents, 
ASTEC,  decision-making  tool,  spend  fuel 
pond, numerical simulation 

Improvement  of  the  European  reference  code  ASTEC  towards  a 
usage  in  severe  accident  management  analysis  and  to  improve  the 
understanding of the Fukushima accidents. 

CHANDA – Solving CHAllenges in Nuclear 
DAta  

A pan-European infrastructure to support the coordination of nuclear 
data  research  programmes,  infrastructures  and  capabilities  of  EU 
MSs 

GRS (DE) 
18 partners (from 13 
EU countries incl 
CH and IN)  

CIEMAT (ES) 
36 partners (from 18 
EU countries incl 
CH and NO)  

01/04/2013 
48 months  

€8.3M / €3.6M  
CP 

Under Negotiation 
48 months  

€10.2M / 5.4M 

CINCH-II  -  Cooperation  in  education  and 
training In Nuclear CHemistry  

Towards a European Master in Nuclear Chemistry, modular ECVET 
training  courses  and  Training  Passport  for  the  customers  from  the 
end users 

CTU (CZ) 
11 partners (from 7 
countries incl. NO)  

Under  Negotiation
36 months  

€1.85M / €1.16M  

CO-CHER  –  Cooperation  on  Chernobyl 
health research 

To build partnerships on research activities that Chernobyl provides 
regarding radiation risks 

IARC (FR) 
8 partners (from 4 
EU incl. UA, BY, 
RU and US)  

Under negotiation 
30 months  

€2.4M / 1.0M 

EN 

22 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMET – COordination and iMplementation 
of 
for 
a 
radioecology 

pan-European 

instrumenT 

To strengthen the pan-European research initiative on the impact of 
radiation on man and the environment by facilitating the integration 
of radio-ecological research. 

CORONA  –  Establishment  of  a  Regional 
Centre 
for  VVER 
of  Competence 
Technology and Nuclear Applications  

To  provide  a  structure  for  training  and  qualification  of  personnel 
serving  VVER  technology  and  unification  of  training  schemes 
according to IAEA standards  

SCK-CEN (BE) 
13 partners (from 10 
EU countries incl. 
UA, JP)  

KNPP (BG) 
11 partners (from 6 
EU countries + 
Russia and UA)  

Under negotiation 
48 months  

€6.0M / 3.4M 

01/12/2011 
36 months  

€2.1M / 1.0M 

DARK-RISK  –  Studies  on  a  cohort  of 
Serbian  children  exposed  to  x-irradiation  to 
determine the contribution of the non-coding 
genome to susceptibility at low doses  

To  prepare  the  way  to  use  SRTCC  biomaterials  to  quantify 
contribution of individual differences in sensitivity to risk from low 
doses of ionizing radiation. 

HZDR (DE) 
5 partners (from 4 
EU)  

01/10/2012 
36 months  

€2.3M / 1.7M 

DOPAS – Full Scale Demonstration of Plugs 
and Seals  

To  demonstrate  the  compliance  of  reference  designs  to  the  design 
basis, for plugs and seals in geological disposal facilities 

POSIVA (FI) 
10 partners (9 
countries incl. CH)  

01/09/2012 
42 months  

€16.9M / €8.7M  

EAGLE  –  Enhancing  educAtion,  traininG 
and  communication  processes  for  informed 
behaviors  and  decision-making  reLatEd  to 
ionizing radiation risks 

To  analyse  the  state  of  the  art  and  the  existing  needs  in  education, 
training  and  information,  and  to  coordinate  the  information  and 
communication about ionising radiation at EU level 

SCK-CEN (BE) 
10 partners (from 8 
EU countries)  

Under Negotiation 
36 months  

€0.87M / €0.77M  

ESNII  Plus  –  Preparing  ESNII  for  Horizon 
2020  

Preparatory  Phase  of  SET-Plan  ESNII  to  ensure  an  efficient 
European  coordinated  research  on  Reactor  Safety  for  the  next 
generation of nuclear installations and linked to SNETP SRiA  

CEA (FR) 
37 partners (from 14 
countries + CH)  

Under  Negotiation
48 months  

€10.4M / €6.5M  

EURECA!  –  Cooperation  between  EU  and 
Canada 
and 
Knowledge  management  on  Gen-IV  SCWR 
concept 

in  Education,  Training 

EU-Canada collaboration, mirrored projects, Education and Training 
activities related to SCWR and LWR NPP.  

DUT (NL) 
6 partners (from 6 
countries)  

01/08/2012 
Negotiation 
24 months  

€0.69M / €0.5M  

EN 

23 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
EUTEMPE-RX  –  EUropean  Training  and 
Education  for  Medical  Physics  Experts  in 
Radiology 

To  develop  a  new  pilot  EFTS  scheme  for  Medical  Physics  Experts 
(MPE)  in  Diagnostic  and  Interventional  Radiology  to  foster  MPE 
radiation protection advocate for patients. 

KU LEUVEN (BE) 
13 partners (from 9 
countries + CH)  

Under Negotiation 
36 months  

€1.65M / €1.65M  

FIRST-NUCLIDES  –  Fast  /  Instant  Release 
of Safety Relevant Radionuclides from Spent 
Nuclear Fuel  

To  improve  understanding  of  fast  /  instantly  released  radionuclides 
from  disposed  high  burn-up  UO2  spent  fuel  as  IGTP  SRA  High 
Priority  

KIT (DE) 
10 partners (from 7 
countries)  

01/01/2012 
36 months  

GENTLE – Graduate and Executive Nuclear 
Training and Lifelong Education 

A pan-European effort in the field of education and training (E&T) 
on  Nuclear  Energy  including  an  Executive  master  course  (60 
ECVET) 

TUDelft (NL) 
12 partners (from 11 
countries + CH)  

01/01/2013 
48 months  

HPMC  –  High  Performance  Monte  Carlo 
reactor core analysis  

To  develop  full  core  Monte  Carlo  calculation  for  time-dependent 
safety  analysis  with  thermal-hydraulic  feedback  and  burn-up  using 
high performance computing  

KIT (DE) 
4 partners (from 4 
countries)  

01/10/2011 
36 months  

JASMIN – Joint Advanced Severe Accidents 
Modelling and Integration for Na-cooled fast 
neutron reactors  

To  develop  a  new  European  code  ASTEC-Na  to  capitalise  SFR 
severe  accident  knowledge,  with  improved  physical  models  to 
support the development of a Gen-IV European SFR  

IRSN (FR) 
9 partners (from 5 
countries)  

01/12/2011 
48 months  

€4.7M / €2.5M  

€2.1M / 1.7M 

€0.8M / 0.55M 

€5.6M / €3.0M  

MARISA  –  MyrrhA  Research  Infrastructure 
Support Action 

To  support  to  the  MYRRHA  research  infrastructure  for  its 
development as a pan-European and world-level 

MATISSE  –  Materials’  Innovations  for  a 
Safe and Sustainable nuclear in Europe 

To support the EERA Joint Nuclear Material Programme R&D and 
pan-European integration 

SCK-CEN (BE) 
16 partners (from 9 
EU countries)  

Under Negotiation 
24 months  

€4.6M / €3.3M  

CEA (FR) 
24 partners (from 12 
countries + CH)  

Under Negotiation 
48 months  

€11.1M / 4.75M 

MAXSIMA  –  Methodology,  Analysis  and 
eXperiments  for  the  "Safety  In  MYRRHA 
Assessment" 

To contribute to the "safety in MYRRHA" assessment to support the 
licensing of MYRRHA. 

SCK-CEN (BE) 
12 partners (from 8 
countries)  

01/11/2012 
72 months  

€10.9M / €5.5M  

EN 

24 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
MULTIMETAL  –  Structural performance  of 
multi-metal component  

Structural  performance  and  ageing  of  dissimilar  metal  welds 
(DMW),  modelling 
towards  harmonised  European  code  and 
standards  

VTT (FI) 
11 partners (from 9 
countries)  

01/02/2012 
36 months  

€3.1M / €1.7M  

NC2I-R  –  Nuclear  Cogeneration  Industrial 
Initiative 
-  Research  and  Development 
Coordination 

To  structure  the  European  public  and  private  R&D  capabilities  for 
delivering a nuclear cogeneration European Industrial Initiative 

NCBJ (PL) 
20 partners (from 11 
countries + ZA)  

Under Negotiation 
24 months  

€2.5M / 1.8M 

NEWLANCER  –  New  MS  Linking  for  an 
Advanced Cohesion in Euratom Research  

To enhance NMS involvement in future Euratom FP and strenghten 
full NMS R&D potential and cohesion  

INR (RO) 
15 partners (from 12 
countries)  

01/11/2011 
24 months  

€0.91M / €0.90M  

NUGENIA-Plus  –  Preparing  NUGENIA  for 
HORIZON2020 

Preparatory  Phase  of  GenII-III  NUGENIA  to  ensure  an  efficient 
European  coordinated  research  on  Reactor  Safety  for  the  existing 
generation of nuclear installations and linked to SNETP SRiA  

VTT (FI) 
15 partners (from 7 
countries)  

Under Negotiation 
48 months  

€10.3M / €6.0M  

NURESAFE  –  NUclear  REactor  SAFEty 
simulation platform  

To  deliver  to  EU  stakeholders  multi-physics  and  fully  integrated 
applications for safety analysis needs and high level of expertise in 
LWR simulation tools 

CEA (FR) 
23 partners (from 14 
countries incl. CH)  

01/01/2013 
36 months  

€10M / €5.6M  

OPERRA  –  Open  Project  for  the  European 
Radiation Research Area 

Preparatory  Phase  of  MELODI,  NERIS  and  Alliance  to  ensure  a 
long-term  EU  research  in  radiation  protection,  radio-ecology  and 
nuclear emergency management  

IRSN (FR) 
14 partners (from 10 
countries)  

Under negotiation 
48 months  

€12.0M / €8.0M  

PASSAM  –  Passive  and  Active  Systems  on 
Severe Accident source term Mitigation 

To  produce  simple  models  and/or  correlations  to  enhance  code  for 
current and future NPPs.  

IRSN (FR) 
8 partners (from 6 
countries incl CH)  

01/01/2013 
48 months  

€5.1M / 3.6M 
CP  

PELGRIMM  –  PELLets  versus  Granulates: 
Irradiation, Manufacturing and Modelling 

Gen-IV  Minor  Actinide  (MA)  bearing  fuel  developments  and 
investigation of two fuel forms pellet and spherepac  

CEA (FR) 
12 partners (from 7 
countries)  

01/01/2012 
48 months  

€7.2M / €3.0M  

EN 

25 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
PETRUS-III  –  Implementing  sustainable 
E&T programmes in the field of Radioactive 
Waste Disposals 

Further  practical 
programme 
curricula 

implementation  of  PETRUS  EFTS 

training 
through  ECVET  and  building  Competency-based 

Univ.Lorraine (FR) 
18 partners (from 11 
EU countries)  

Under Negotiation 
36 months  

€1.6M / €1.4M  

PLATENSO  –  Building  a  platform  for 
enhanced societal research related to nuclear 
energy in Central and Eastern Europe 

To enhance capabilities of research institutes in Central and Eastern 
Europe to take part in EU research, social and societal aspects. 

KARITA (SE) 
19 partners (from 13 
EU countries)  

Under Negotiation 
36 months  

€1.25M / €1.0M  

PREPARE – Innovative integrative tools and 
platforms  to  be  prepared  for  radiological 
emergencies  and  post-accident  response  in 
Europe 

Update  of  emergency  management  and rehabilitation  strategies  and 
expertise in Europe following Fukushima accident  

KIT (DE) 
46 partners (from 19 
EU countries + UA, 
NO, CH)  

01/02/2013 
36 months  

€6.75M / 4.0M 

PROCARDIO  –  Cardiovascular  Risk  from 
Exposure  to  Low-dose  and  Low-dose  rate 
Ionizing radiation  

To  further  study  inconclusive  evidence  between  cardiovascular 
disease and exposure of the heart and major vessels to doses below 
500mGy  

HMGU (DE) 
12 partners (from 7 
countries + RU)  

01/10/2011 
36 months  

€5.5M / 3.0M 

RENEB  –  Realising  the  European  Network 
in Biodosimetry  

To create a sustainable network in biological dosimetry and improve 
EU accident and emergency response capabilities  

BFS (DE) 
23 partners (from 16 
EU countries)  

01/01/2012 
48 months  

RISK-IR  –  Risk,  Stem  Cells  and  Tissue 
Kinetics – Ionising Radiation 

Using  techniques  emerging  from  stem  cell  biological  and  tissue 
kinetics research to address several major areas of uncertainty in low 
dose cancer risk estimates  

HPA (UK) 
13 partners (from 7 
countries)  

01/11/2012 
48 months  

SACSESS  -  Safety  of  ACtinide  Separation 
proceSSes  

To  demonstrate  fuel  cycle  safety  and  potential  benefits  of  actinide 
partitioning to the global safety of the long-lived waste management 
P&T 

CEA (FR) 
27 partners (from 12 
countries incl.CH, 
JP)  

01/03/2013 
36 months  

€1.55M / 1.0M 

€8.9M / €6.7M  

€12.5M / €5.5M  

EN 

26 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
SARGEN-IV  –  Harmonized  European 
methodology  for  the  Safety  Assessment  of 
innovative GEN-IV reactors  

Safety  R&D  assessment  and  methodologies  in  support  to  ESNII 
gathering  European  TSOs,  designers,  vendors  and  Research 
organisations  

IRSN (FR) 
22 partners (from 12 
countries)  

01/01/2012 
24 months  

€1.0M / 1.0M 

SARRAH  –  Sustainable  Approach 
for 
Regional  Research  Active  Integration  in 
Horizon 2020 (**)  

To  support  coordination  actions  enabling  the  sustainable  formation 
of competences in NMS 

R.A. PENTR (RO) 
20 partners (from 11 
EU countries)  

Under Negotiation 
36 months  

€1.2M / €1.0M  

SEARCH  –  Safe  Exploitation  Related 
Chemistry  for  HLM  reactors  and  Lead-
cooled Advanced Fast Reactor  

Investigating  safe  chemical  behaviour  of  fuel  and  coolant  in  lead-
cooled reactor and support of Myrrha LFR technology 

SecIGD2  –  Secretariat  of  the  Implementing 
Geological  Disposal  of  Radioactive  Waste  - 
Technology Platform Phase 2 

To  further  integrate  and  coordinate  the  activities  of  IGD-TP 
participants 

SEMI-NUC  –  Prospective  cohort  study  of 
residents  near  the  Semipalatinsk  nuclear  test 
site – feasibility 

To  conduct  a  feasibility  study  to  set  up  a  unique  cohort  to  address 
dose-effect relationship for both cancer and non-cancer effects from 
low to moderate chronic doses (external and internal) 

SILER  –  Seismic-Initiated  events 
mitigation in Lead-cooled Reactors  

risk 

To  study  risks  associated  to  seismic  initiated  events  in  Gen-IV 
Heavy Liquid Metal reactors and develop adequate measures  

SITEX – Sustainable network of Independent 
Technical  Expertise  for  radioactive  waste 
disposal  

To  identify  efficient  means  to  establish  a  sustainable  network 
regulatory bodies, TSOs and waste management organisations  

SCK-CEN (BE) 
12 partners (from 8 
countries)  

01/11/2011 
36 months  

ANDRA (FR) 
4 partners (from 4 
countries)  

01/01/2013 
36 months  

IARC (FR) 
6 partners (from 5 
countries incl. NO, 
KZ and JP)  

01/04/2013 
48 months  

ENEA (IT) 
18 partners (from 8 
countries)  

01/10/2011 
36 months  

IRSN (FR) 
12 partners (from 9 
countries + CA)  

01/01/2012 
24 months  

€5.4M / 3.0M 

€1.4M / €0.8M  

€1.7M / €0.95M  

€5.3M / €3.0M  

€0.98M / €0.98M  

EN 

27 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
TALISMAN - Transnational Access to Large 
Infrastructure  for  a  Safe  Management  of 
ActiNide  

Transnational  access  to  infrastructures  in  actinide  sciences  by 
European scientists 

CEA (FR) 
12 partners (from 9 
countries incl. CH)  

01/01/2013 
36 months  

€6.2M / €4.0M  

WINSR  –  Widening  Involvement  of  New 
Member  States  in  H2020  in  Nuclear  Safety 
Research 
(**) WINSR to be merged with SARRAH  

NUSHARE  –  Project  for  Sharing  and 
growing Nuclear Safety Competence 

To enhance involvement of NMS and their organisations in “Fission, 
Safety and Radiation Protection” Programme. 

A Euratom Training initiative drawing lessons from Fukushima from 
a  'Research  and  Innovation'  prospect  and  in  two  areas:  (a)  further 
strengthening of the nuclear safety culture throughout Europe, with 
particular emphasis on the human element; (b) public understanding 
of  nuclear  fission  technologies  and  radiation  protection  issues  in 
general. 

LEI (LT) 
10 partners (from 8 
EU countries 
including HR)  

Under Negotiation 
24 months  

€0.9M / €0.5M  

ENEN (FR) 
1 partner (from 1 EU 
country) 

01/01/2013 
48 months 

€1.1M / €1.0M 

SAFEST  -  Severe  Accident  Facilities  for 
European Safety Targets 

To support joint experimental research towards severe accident 
R&D programmes that are being set up after Fukushima and the 
subsequent European stress tests addressing both national and 
European objectives  

KIT (DE) 
8 partners (from 6 
EU countries) 

Reserve List 
48 months 

€5.0M / €4.0M 

ENEN-RU-II - Strengthening of Cooperation 
and Exchange for Nuclear Education and 
Training between the European Union and 
the Russian Federation 

Two parallel projects in the EU and the Russian Federation, basis for 
a mutual recognition of E&T programmes, exchange of researchers 
at master and postgraduate levels and young professionals from 
nuclear research institutes and industry. 

ENEN (FR) 
11 partners (from 8 
EU countries) 

Reserve List 
36 months 

€0.79M / €0.70M 

ENETRAP-III - European Network for 
Education and Training in Radiation 
Protection 

To further develop European reference training schemes and 
specialized modules for Radiation Protection Experts in medical, 
waste management and NPP fields. Implementation of ECVET and 
fostering assistance from regulators that will play a crucial role 
towards the endorsement of the proposed courses and learning 
objectives. 

SCK-CEN (BE) 
14 partners (from 11 
EU countries) 

Reserve List 
48 months 

€1.80M / €1.20M 

EN 

28 

EN 

 
  
 
 
Annex II : Direct Actions of 2012 and 2013 

Acronym 

NWD2 

ANFC 

FPANM 

ND Stds 

Title 

Nuclear Waste Disposal & Decommissioning 

Alternative Nuclear Fuel Cycles 

Fundamental Properties of Actinides and Nuclear Materials 

JRC Institute 

Institute for Transuranium Elements 

Institute for Transuranium Elements 

Institute for Transuranium Elements 

Basic research in nuclear physics and nuclear data standards 

Institiute for Reference Materials and Measurements 

ND-MINWASTE  Nuclear data for radioactive waste management and safety of new reactor developments 

Institiute for Reference Materials and Measurements 

AIT 

REM 

RADMET 

NUSAC 

NURAM 

SNF 

CAPTURE 

MATTINO 

Alpha-Immunotherapy 

Radioactivity Environmental Monitoring 

Institute for Transuranium Elements 

Institute for Transuranium Elements 

Radionuclide metrology for primary standardisation and policy support 

Institiute for Reference Materials and Measurements 

Centralised EU Nuclear Safety Clearinghouse for Operational Experience Feedback 

Institute for Enegy and Transport 

Nuclear Reactor Accident Analysis and Modelling 

Safety of Nuclear Fuels and Fuel cycles 

Institute for Enegy and Transport 

Institute for Transuranium Elements 

Knowledge Management, Training and Education in Reactor design and Operation 

Institute for Enegy and Transport 

MATerials performance assessmenT for safety and Innovative Nuclear reactOrs 

Institute for Enegy and Transport 

NuTraSeal 

Nuclear Traceability and Sealing Systems 

Institute for Transuranium Elements 

Providing metrological tools to support nuclear safeguards activities 

Institiute for Reference Materials and Measurements 

METRO 

FACIL 

IANUS 

NUVER 

Forensics Analysis and Combating Illicit Trafficking 

Information Analysis for Nuclear Security 

Nuclear Facilities Verification 

NUMAMET 

Nuclear Materials Measurements Techniques 

NTAS 

NUSIM 

Nuclear and Trace Analysis for Safeguards 

Nuclear Fuel Cycle Simulations 

Institute for Transuranium Elements 

Institute for Transuranium Elements 

Institute for Transuranium Elements 

Institute for Transuranium Elements 

Institute for Transuranium Elements 

Institute for Transuranium Elements 

EN 

29 

EN 

 
  
Annex III: Extract of the European Ethics Group Report (delivered in January 2013) 

Research on energy is crucial if the European Union goals and targets stated in the roadmap 2050 are to be achieved. Research priorities need to be 
consistent with these and should include the integrated ethics approach the EGE has adopted in this opinion. This implies that priorities for nuclear 
research should include research on:  

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Technologies that would contribute to the development of European smart grid infrastructure;  

Interdisciplinary research on storage and transport of materials and residues related to energy production and use; 

Analysis on residue production of (nuclear) energy sources, its reduction or elimination and possible re-use;  

The area of psychosocial modelling of individual and community behavioural interventions in order to support energy-efficiency initiatives in 
setting new standards beyond current best practice;  

Comparative impact assessment of all energy sources, using the integrated methodology of technological, social, and political scenarios. They 
should include scenarios of worst case (social, environmental), short term and long-term prognoses, geopolitical contexts and safety risks for 
workers; 

Social sciences, psychology, social anthropology, sociology, ethics and law.  

The  EGE  is  of  the  view  that,  as  argued  in  previous  opinions,  the  development  of  science  and  technology  requires  critical  and  independent  ethical 
analysis which can be facilitated by supporting a community of experts. In order to help this process, the Group therefore recommends interdisciplinary 
research on the ethical, legal and social implication of (nuclear) energy to be financed in Horizon 2020. 

EN 

30 

EN 

 
  
 
Annex IV: Conclusions of the 26-27 February 2013 Symposium 

The symposium took note of the interdisciplinary study on nuclear energy and the opinion of the European Group on Ethics and: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

NOTED  the  major  societal  challenges  Europe  has  to  address,  not  only  the  current  economic  crisis,  but  also  security  of  energy  supply,  food  security, 
protection of the environment, including climate change, and social welfare; 

EXPRESSED its concern notably about the energy challenge and CALLED upon the public and the private sector to step-up their research investments in 
all  forms  of  sustainable  energy  to  ensure  an  equitable  transition  to  a  low  carbon  economy,  while  fulfilling  the  overall  goals  of  the  EU  Energy  policy 
(Sustainability, Security and Reliability of Supply; Competitiveness and Affordability) 

RECOGNISED  that  nuclear  fission  for  energy  production  is  an  important  political  issue  in  most  Member  States  and  for  the  general  public.  Therefore 
nuclear fission research must be considered as a joint endeavour involving the research community, politicians and the public; in addition scientific support 
to policy on nuclear safety should be further developed, notably the setting of a framework for harmonisation of national standards.  

HIGHLIGHTED that, following Fukushima, future Euratom research cannot be "business as usual" and its orientation should be more focused on safety, 
risk-mitigation,  safeguards  and  security,  as  well  as  waste  management  and  decommissioning;  research  efforts  should  evolve  towards  a  wider  systemic 
approach  and  be  integrated  with  other  policy  streams,  ensuring  transparency  and  cost  effectiveness;  Euratom  should  also  not  ignore  the  necessity  and 
stimulus of research into new and emerging technologies, not only for safety and security, but also in innovative sectors such as nuclear medicine; 

EMPHASISED  that  Europe,  through  the  Euratom  programme,  should  keep  its  competences  at  the  highest  level,  to  allow  all  citizens  to  benefit  from 
publicly financed, transparent, independent knowledge in nuclear fission safety; European skills have to stay up to date, supported by capacity building and 
continuous strengthening of the human resource base; 

CALLED for the development of stronger links between science, civil society, industry and policy makers, with possible consequences on the governance 
of  the  future  Euratom  programme,  including  the  composition  of  the  Euratom  Scientific  and  Technical  Committee  (STC),  and  on  the  way  research 
associations and technology platforms interact with the general public; 

UNDERLINED  that  the  Euratom  activities  would  greatly  benefit  from  structured  and  regular  interactions  with  the  European  Economic  and  Social 
Committee (EESC), in particular to help deal with the implications of the rapidly growing demand for energy and the evolution of the energy mix.  

RECALLED that the Commission's Joint Research Centre is recognized as a EU Centre of Excellence for nuclear safety, safeguards and security science; 
consideration should be given to opening the JRC Clearinghouse on Operational Experience Feedback to all national nuclear regulatory authorities, who 
want to participate, in order to establish a permanent European Nuclear Safety Laboratory for the continuous improvement of safety; 

REITERATED  that,  in  line  with  the  changing  research  and  innovation  scene  world-wide,  Euratom  should  take  a  full  part  in  international  discussions, 
forming partnerships with other regions of the world, to promote the highest safety standards.  

EN 

31 

EN