JRC annual report 2002.
Date: 2018-11-23
Institutions: Joint Research Centre
Subjects: Joint Research Centre, activity report

EN

     REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION

    JRC Annual Report

      2002

KJ-50-03-328-EN-N

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION

JRC Annual Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COMMISSION DECISION JRC Annual Report .......................................................................1

ANNEX.......................................................................................................................................2

1.

2.

3.

4.

4.1.

4.2.

4.3.

4.4.

4.5.

4.6.

4.7.

4.8.

4.9.

Foreword from the Commissioner for Research...........................................................3

Observations from the Board of Governors..................................................................5

Message from the Director General of the JRC............................................................6

Direct support to Community policies..........................................................................7

Chemicals Policy Support.............................................................................................9

New European Network of GMO Laboratories..........................................................10

Sustainable agriculture and food safety......................................................................10

Sustainable fisheries - control and enforcement .........................................................12

Water Framework Directive........................................................................................13

Reaction to emergencies .............................................................................................14

Prospective studies on enlargement ............................................................................15

Safety of Central -and Eastern-European Nuclear Reactors.......................................16

New Minor Actinide laboratory fosters innovation in nuclear waste management....17

4.10.

Non-proliferation and nuclear safeguards...................................................................18

5.

5.1.

5.2.

5.3.

6.

6.1.

6.2.

6.3.

6.4.

6.5.

Young Scientists' Achievements.................................................................................19

Awards to JRC Young Scientists................................................................................19

Awards for best Publication........................................................................................22

Three innovative publications of the year...................................................................23

Contributing to the European Research Area .............................................................25

ERA Action Plan.........................................................................................................25

Support to Enlargement ..............................................................................................26

Support to GMES Initiative ........................................................................................27

FP6 and the Multi Annual Work Programme .............................................................27

Technology Transfer...................................................................................................30

1

7.

7.1.

8.

8.1.

8.2.

8.3.

8.4.

8.5.

8.6.

9.

9.1.

9.2.

Decommissioning of JRC Nuclear Installations .........................................................31

The present Status .......................................................................................................31

The JRC in Figures .....................................................................................................33

Staff.............................................................................................................................33

Visiting staff................................................................................................................34

Equal opportunities .....................................................................................................34

Budget (budget and expenses – institutional activities)..............................................34

Competitive activities .................................................................................................36

JRC 2002 Publications by Institute.............................................................................37

Appendices..................................................................................................................38

Appendix 1: Members and participants of the JRC Board of Governors ...................38

Appendix 2: The JRC Directors..................................................................................41

2

1. 

FOREWORD FROM THE COMMISSIONER FOR R ESEARCH

Europe  has  a  distinguished  history  in  science  and  today  produces  just  over  one  third  of  the
world’s scientific publications. Nevertheless, there are several issues of concern that need to
be addressed, issues that impinge upon the fact that Europe holds second place on the scale of
world  scientific  research.  For  example,  today  Europe  assigns  only  1.9%  of  its  GDP  to
research  whilst  Japan  allocates  3.0%  and  the  USA  2.7%  –  with  the  latter  figures  rising.  One
obstacle  for  European  research  is  the  dispersion  of  effort  and  lack  of  coherence  due  to  the
inevitable fragmentation within and between the different  countries.  The  European  Research
Area  (ERA)  was  founded  to  help  counteract  this  obstacle  and  it  aims  to  make  the  Union  the
most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world.

Though still in its infancy, ERA will play a key role in strengthening European research and
the  JRC,  through  its  core  areas  of  scientific  competence  can  play  a  catalytic  role  in  its
development and evolution. To this end, the JRC developed an ERA action plan in 2002 that
focuses on its contribution to common scientific reference systems, networking, enlargement,
training  and  mobility,  and  increasing  access  to  specialised  facilities.  I  attach  particular
importance  to  the  promotion  of  common  scientific  references  and  methods,  such  as  the  new
European Network of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Laboratories, as these provide
the  basis  for  a  concerted  approach  to  solving  trans-national  problems  and  to  facilitating
business and trade both within and beyond the Union.

Building on its expertise in matters of health, safety and the environment, the JRC continued
in  2002  to  provide  scientific  and  technical  support  to  the  European  Union  (EU)  in  the
formulation and implementation of Community policies. A clear focus both on policy support
and  ERA  is  strongly  reflected  in  the  priorities  of  the  JRC  multi-annual  work  programme
(2003-2006)  for  the  Sixth  Framework  Programme  (FP6).  Working  closely  with  scientists,
national  research  organisations  and  businesses  throughout  Europe,  it  adds  value  to  Member
State  initiatives  and  contributes  to  the  enlargement  process  through  supporting  Candidate
Country integration into the EU.

The JRC’s activities in 2002, as documented here, demonstrate how it intervened and helped
solve  EU  policy  related  scientific  problems,  how  it  progressed  towards  enlargement  and
contributed  to  the  preparation  of  ERA.  I  have  also  observed  with  pleasure  that  the  JRC  is
becoming  a  dynamic  and  results-oriented  organisation,  with  more  focus,  more  customer
orientation and timely delivery of high quality results. I am confident that the JRC will make
a  valuable  contribution  to  the  creation  of  ERA  and  thereby  contribute  to  European  scientific
excellence.

Philippe Busquin

Research Commissioner

3

2. 

DRAFT OBSERVATIONS FROM THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS CA(03)5

During  2002,  the  JRC  focused  on  the  preparation  of  its  multi-annual  work  programme  for
2003  to  2006  and  defining  its  role  in  the  European  Research  Area  and  its  contribution  to
enlargement. The increased interaction with and consultation of both the High Level Group of
User DGs and the JRC's Board of Governors contributed significantly to the overall content of
the  work  programme.  The  new  Deputy  Director  General,  Dr.  Roland  Schenkel,  and  the  new
Director  of  the  Institute  for  Transuranium  Elements  in  Karlsruhe,  Dr.  Gerard  Lander,  were
appointed with the involvement of the Board of Governors in their selection. The Board also
endorsed the internal restructuring of senior management in the JRC which was carried out in
an efficient and smooth way.

The quest to improve efficiency of services was also continued through development of a time
accounting  and  project  management  system.  The  Board  of  Governors  appreciates  the  JRC
management's efforts to rationalise the administrative tasks and reduce costs and to make best
use of its human and financial resources.

In this context, the Board makes the following observations for the year 2002: The provision
of sound scientific and technical support to EU policies continued in line with JRC's mission
with particular examples shown in this report.  Increased  user-orientation  was  evident  in  the
preparation  of  the  JRC's  multi-annual  work  programme  and  the  Board  of  Governors
acknowledges  that  the  JRC  has  taken  into  consideration  the  recommendations  of  the  Board
and  its  Working  Groups  and  that  the  new  work  programme  will  be  effective  in  serving  EU
policies  and  ensuring  necessary  scientific  excellence.  We  believe  that  the  new  structure  of
Integrated  Scientific  Areas  (ISAs)  will  make  better  use  of  JRC  multi-disciplinary
competencies and enhance the cohesion and focus of the JRC activities.

The  Board  also  acknowledges  the  JRC's  potential  to  contribute  strongly  to  the  aims  of  the
European Research Area in strengthening the EU's position in international research. The JRC
ERA  Action  Plan,  jointly  developed  by  the  Board  and  the  JRC  management  lays  out
ambitious targets focusing on the JRC's ability to contribute via Common Scientific Reference
Systems,  increased  networking,  targeted  multidisciplinary  training  and  mobility,  and
broadening access and use of JRC's specialised facilities. A further aim of the ERA is meeting
the challenge of an enlarged Europe. The Board recognises the results of the JRC programme
on  ‘Collaboration  and  advanced  training’  in  2002  which  through  a  series  of  dedicated
workshops  and  training  sessions  involved  more  than  1000  scientists  from  Candidate
Countries.

The JRC's main asset is its highly qualified staff and the Board applauds the initiative taken in
2002  to  recognise  scientific  excellence  through  young  scientist  and  best  publication  awards.
The  Board’s  own  discussions  during  the  year  benefited  considerably  from  direct  interaction
with staff representatives as a part of our meetings.

The Board welcomed and endorsed the move to give JRC responsibility for the management
of  the  Communities’  intellectual  property.  The  JRC  will  undertake  actions  to  protect  and
transfer its own results to the market and to develop its networks throughout Europe to foster
best practice on innovation and technology transfer.

The Board of Governors notes that the JRC's role in nuclear related activities presents various
challenges, notably the management of JRC's own nuclear waste and the decommissioning of
some  of  its  nuclear  facilities.  The  Board  of  Governors  encourages  the  JRC  to  continue  using
its know-how and competency in this field to accomplish its mission and looks forward to the
future development of the operation of the High Flux Reactor.

4

3. 

MESSAGE FROM THE D IRECTOR GENERAL OF THE JRC

The  year  2002,  the  aftermath  of  JRC  realignment  and  focusing  of  activities,  was  one  of
consolidation  and  quantifiable  success.  This  success  came  in  terms  of  the  inauguration  of  a
European Network of 45 GMO laboratories and a new Minor Actinide laboratory to formulate
safe  solutions  to  nuclear  waste,  and  in  effectively  using  satellite  imagery  for  sustainable
agriculture, fisheries, environmental protection and alleviating European crises such as floods
and  oil  spills.  There  was  success  also  in  terms  of  further  extending  common  scientific
reference systems, such as BSE test evaluation, to the Candidate Countries and extending our
scientific  base and networks to the east in order to enhance  nuclear  safety  and  security.  And
success,  on  a  different  level,  was  achieved  by  preparing  the  FP6  multi-annual  work
programme so that it enhances integration between our seven institutes, and, together with the
ERA  action  plan,  outlines  our  commitment  to  contributing  towards  the  European  Research
Area.

I would like to highlight some outstanding achievements by young JRC scientific staff during
2002. As appraised and judged by the JRC Scientific Committee, this year’s Young Scientist
of  the  Year  Award  went  to  Francesca  Campolongo  for  producing  original  theoretical
scientific  work  in  the  field  of  mathematical  modelling  and,  in  particular,  on  uncertainty  and
sensitivity  analysis  of  model  output.  Young  Scientist  Awards  for  Scientific  Innovation  were
made for research in the areas of biomedical technology and environmental research.

The  Scientific  Publication  of  the  Year  Award  produced  an  overall  winner  with  the  paper  on
the “Determination of Deforestation Rates of the World’s Humid Tropical Forests” published
in  Science.  Three  further  papers  were  judged  to  have  outstanding  innovative  scientific
content,  namely:  “Fission  of  actinides  using  a  tabletop  laser”  published  in  Europhysics
Letters;  “Neutron-Induced  Fission  Cross  Section  of  233Pa  between  1.0  and  3.0  MeV”  in
Physical  Review  Letters;  and  finally  “Plutonium-based  superconductivity  above  18  K”
published in Nature. These examples show that scientific excellence is high on JRC’s agenda
and  I  am  delighted  to  foster  this  aspect  as  a  cornerstone  of  credible  support  to  Community
policies.

To turn briefly from scientific matters, the JRC will also remember 2002 as the year that one
of its Institutes received one of three prizes for best “Financial Authorising Officer” across the
whole  European  Commission.  This  reflects  very  positively  on  the  management  support  unit
involved. The basis for this award was the appraisal of “sound and efficient management” and
as such, this further consolidates the reputation of the JRC as a reliable place to do business.
There are also many unsung heroes who provided excellent service in both the technical and
administrative domains and, in 2003, we will introduce a recognition scheme in these areas as
well.

In  2002,  the  number  of  short-term  staff  increased  to  591  compared  with  494  in  2001.  I  am
pleased with the progress we continue to make in attracting excellent scientists from Member
States, Candidate Countries and elsewhere to work in the JRC for temporary periods of up to
three  years.  I  now  look  forward  to  the  start  of  the  new  framework  programme  with  the
expectation that the JRC will make a strong and reliable scientific and technical contribution
to the conception, development and implementation of EU policies.

To conclude I extend my sincere thanks to all JRC staff, to our customer DGs and to all our
partners.

Barry Mc Sweeney

5

4. 

DIRECT SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY POLICIES

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is a Directorate-General (DG) of the European Commission
serving the European Union (EU) as a whole. Its role is to support EU policies by providing
independent scientific and technical support to the Commission, the European Parliament, the
Council  and  the  Member  States  –  with  the  overall  objective  of  helping  to  create  a  safer,
cleaner, healthier and more competitive Europe.

The  JRC  carries  out  research  of  direct  concern  to  European  citizens  and  industry.  As  a
Commission  service,  it  maintains  independence  from  private  or  national  interests,  which  is
crucial  in  pursuing  its  mission.  Over  the  years,  the  JRC  has  developed  skills  and  tools  to
provide  autonomous  and  Europe-wide  expertise  that  brings  improved  understanding  of  the
links between technology, the economy and society.  Examples of areas where JRC scientific
and technical support was provided in 2002 are described in the following pages.

Legislation supported by the JRC in 2002

EC Regulation 765/2002 on Beef Gender Testing

Mining  waste  initiative  –  Environment  DG  /  European  Integrated  Pollution  Prevention  and  Control
Bureau (EIPPCB)

Environmental Technologies for Sustainable Development, (COM (2002)122) (European Council
Barcelona)

Communication from the Commission on Impact Assessment (COM (2002)276)

Pressure Equipment Directive

Biofuels Directive

Environmental Technologies Action Plan of the European Union

Communication of the Commission to the Council and Parliament: Civil protection - Progress made in
implementing the programme for preparedness for possible emergencies

Communication of the Commission on the 3% target for R&D spending

Commission Decision C(2002)4287 for the European Atomic Energy Community to (1) adhere to the
Generation  IV  International  Forum,  and  (2)  to  conclude  a  technical  exchange  and  cooperation
agreement and the Department of Energy of the United States of America

Joint Communication (Copenhagen Council) of the Council and the Commission: Draft programme to
improve cooperation in the European Union for preventing and limiting the consequences of chemical,
biological, radiological or nuclear terrorist threats

Communication  to  the  Copenhagen  Summit  (December  2002)  on  "Barriers  to  widespread  access  to
new services and applications of the information society through open platforms in digital television
and third generation mobile communications"

6

4.1. 

Chemicals Policy Support

The  chemicals  industry  is  one  of  the  most  important  manufacturing  industries  in  the  EU.
Chemical  sales  alone  amounted  to  €  488  billion  in  2001  and  about  3  million  people  are
employed, either directly or indirectly, by the chemicals industry in the EU. In February 2001,
the  Commission,  after  consultation  with  all  stakeholders  including  chemical  producers,
industrial  users,  citizens’  groups  and  animal  welfare  organisations,  issued  a  White  Paper
outlining  its  chemicals  policy  strategy.  Currently  the  Commission  is  in  the  process  of
establishing a single review and testing system called REACH (Registration, Evaluation and
Authorisation of CHemicals) for all existing and new chemicals.

The  JRC  European  Chemicals  Bureau  (ECB)  provides  scientific  and  technical  support  for
developing and implementing EU chemicals policies with the Environment and the Enterprise
DGs,  by  classifying,  labelling  and  evaluating  the  risks  of  chemicals  to  humans  and  the
environment.  The  ECB  has  highlighted  a  lack  of  basic  data  on  industrial  chemicals  and  in
2002  it  completed  ten  risk  assessments  for  existing  substances  and  processed  some  350
notifications  for  new  substances.  With  around  100  000  chemical  substances  still  not  tested,
the  ECB  is  actively  developing  methods  for  continuous  improvement  in  predicting  and
assessing their risks.

Methodological and data deficiencies on human exposure represent a major bottleneck in the
risk  assessment  process.  The  JRC’s  Physical  and  Chemical  Exposure  Unit  (PCE)  is
developing  methods  for  improving  the  characterisation  of  human  exposure  to  chemicals.  In
2002, PCE was requested by the  Health and Consumer Protection DG to develop and operate
a  European  Information  System  on  Chemical  Risks.  EIS-CHEMRISKS  will  systematically
collect,  store,  and  assess  information  on  human  exposure  to  chemicals  released  from
consumer products/articles.

The  JRC  also  validates  cost-effective  alternative  testing  methods,  i.e.  methods  that  reduce,
refine  or  replace  the  use  of  animals.  The  JRC  European  Centre  for  the  Validation  of
Alternative  Methods  (ECVAM)  co-ordinates  and  funds  (pre-)  validation  studies  and  carries
out  research  in  several  areas  of  toxicology  relevant  to  the  testing  of  chemicals  (including
cosmetics  and  pharmaceuticals),  which  ultimately  leads  to  a  greater  protection  of  human
health.  In  2002,  ECVAM  organised  several  meetings  of  the  ECVAM  Working  Group  on
Chemicals, resulting in the publication –  ATLA (Alternatives To Laboratory Animals) in  July
2002  –  of  a  comprehensive  report  on  “Alternative  (non-animal)  Methods  for  Chemicals
Testing Current Status and Future Prospects".

7

4.2. 

New European Network of GMO Laboratories

Genetically  modified  organisms  (GMOs)  are  the  focus  of  intense  public  and  political  debate
with  concerns  about  the  safety  of  both  food  and  the  environment.  EU  consumers  have
convincingly  expressed  their  desire  to  know  if  the  food  they  eat,  buy  and/or  sell  has  been
genetically  modified.  In  the  most  recent  Council  conclusions,  agreed  by  the  Commission,  it
has  been  decided  that  food,  or  food  ingredients,  containing  GMOs  in  concentrations  above
0.9%  must  be  labelled.  Two  scientific  cornerstones  for  implementing  EU  labelling
requirements  are  the  development  of  robust  and  reliable  analytical  methods  for  the
identification  and  determination  of  GMOs  in  food  and  foodstuffs,  and  the  availability  of
certified  reference  materials  (measurement  standards)  to  ensure  measurement  standardisation
and the promotion of fair trade.

The  JRC  produced  the  world’s  first  certified  reference  materials  for  GMOs  and  so  far  has
delivered some 100  000  samples  to  external  laboratories.  With  globally  recognised  expertise
in  GMO  risk  assessment,  the  JRC  has  also  developed  and  validated  methods  for  identifying
and determining levels of GMOs in food and foodstuffs.

On 4 December 2002, Commissioner Philippe Busquin inaugurated the European Network of
GMO  Laboratories  (ENGL  –  http://engl.jrc.it/).  Co-ordinated  by  the  JRC,  this  network
consists of 45 EU control laboratories (about 450 experts) and has the mandate to examine the
different GMOs put on the market and to ensure that all national control laboratories can trace
GMOs  throughout  the  food  chain.  In  effect,  ENGL  has  been  set  up  to  create  a  forum  for  the
EU  and  the  European  Environmental  Agency  to  collaborate  on  sampling,  detection,
identification and quantification of GMOs.

ENGL, in the short term, will yield reliable and comparable GMO test results and thus avoid
trade confusion and litigation while promoting consumer confidence. In the long term, ENGL
aims to become a scientific and technical European network of excellence within the context
of  EU  GMO  regulation.  The  network  is  already  inviting  future  Member  States  to  participate
in working groups and is interacting with EU global trade partners.

Finally,  the  Commission  has  nominated  the  JRC  to  become  the  Community  Reference
Laboratory  for  GMO  food  and  feed  regulations  –  an  indicator  of  the  JRC’s  role  in  and
contribution to this key scientific area.

8

4.3. 

Sustainable agriculture and food safety

European  consumers  attach  increasing  importance  to  the  safety  and  quality  of  their  food
supply and to production methods throughout the food chain. These issues are targeted in the
discussions  on  the  Common  Agricultural  Policy  (CAP)  reform.  Increased  food  safety  is  part
of a more sustainable agriculture.  The JRC’s role  relates to sustainable development, cleaner
energy  and  a  better  quality  of  life  through  food  safety,  health  and  security.  This  also  means
adapting an holistic approach to the protection of the environment, i.e. soil, air, water, climate
and land use both locally in Europe and globally.

To  be  more  specific,  the  JRC  contributes  to  the  traceability  of  food  and  the  assessment  of
sustainable agricultural production practices.  For  example,  the  demand  for  organic  food  is
growing, with consumers becoming more conscious about the types of fresh product they eat
and how it is grown. With most Member States calling for common inspection rules, organic
food  and  farming  is  certainly  under  the  spotlight.  However,  despite  some  attempts  to
distinguish  conventional  from  organic  food  (pesticide  and  nitrate  content),  little  focus  has
been put on compliance with labelling and an EU-wide harmonised approach.

In  response,  the  JRC  is  presently  performing  a  feasibility  study  on  the  possibilities  to  detect
differences between organic and conventional food products. In 2002, the establishment of a
database  on  certification  organisations,  inspection  bodies  and  organisations  involved  in
organic  agriculture  got  underway.  Furthermore,  a  survey  was  performed  and  reported  on
analytical  methods  developed  to  assess  organic  food,  and  an  ongoing  survey  on  the
contamination level of mycotoxins in breakfast cereals deriving from organic production will
be finalised in early 2003. The JRC also started networking with laboratories, industry, public
institutes and universities from Member States, Candidate Countries and Switzerland. Also in
2002,  the  focusing  of  activities  in  the  JRC  saw  the  inter-institute  transfer  of  food  products
activities to the Geel Institute and therewith the  creation of a new Food and Feed Unit which
aims  to  attain  a  critical  mass  for  food  safety  research.  Main  activities  include  the
detection/determination  of  allergens,  mycotoxins,  acrylamide,  cocoa  butter,  polychlorinated
biphenyls and dioxins, meat and bone meal and central nervous tissue in food and/or feed.

Further support to sustainable agriculture focuses on the  MARS-STAT  crop  yield  forecasting
system, based on meteorological analysis, crop growth indicators and low-resolution satellite-
based  information.  The  main  cereals  (wheat,  barley  and  maize)  and  oil  seeds  (rapeseed  and
sunflower)  are  assessed  for  the  entire  European  continent,  the  Maghreb  region  and  Turkey.
The  system  produces  quantitative  forecasts,  which  are  used  as  official  references  by  the
European Commission and for outlook analyses in support of CAP decisions. Finally, control
with  remote  sensing  is  used  for  the  detection  of  errors  in  the  area-aid  applications  that  EU
farmers file every year with their National Administrations.

In  conclusion,  the  JRC  is  now  ready  to  support  policies  on  carbon  credits  and  credits  for
energy  crops  that  are  being  prepared  in  order  to  help  contribute  to  the  ambitious  targets  that
Member States have set for biofuel contribution to the EU energy supply mix.

9

4.4. 

Sustainable fisheries - control and enforcement

It  is  now  almost  universally  accepted  in  the  scientific  community  that  over  fishing  and
inappropriate  fishing  practices  have  been  responsible  for  both  local  fish  stock  collapses  and
dwindling  global  catches.  The  solutions  proposed,  both  by  the  Commission  in  its  reform  of
the Common Fisheries Policy and by the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development
at Johannesburg, include improved reporting, enforcement and control of fishing vessels.

The  EU’s  main  instrument  for  monitoring  the  position  of  fishing  vessels  is  the  Vessel
Monitoring  System  (VMS),  which  is  compulsory  for  all  vessels  over  24  metres  registered  in
the  EU  or  fishing  in  EU  waters.  This  on-board  system  transmits  the  vessel’s  position  to  the
flag  state  and  the  coastal  state  on  a  regular  basis  –  the  typical  period  between  reports  being
about an hour.

The  JRC  has  been  investigating  how  satellite  imagery  can  help  detect  and  identify  vessels
whose VMS is not functioning. Trials in the Flemish Cap, North Sea, Bay of Biscay and the
Azores  showed  that  analysis  of  synthetic  aperture  radar  (SAR)  images  from  the  Canadian
RADARSAT  satellite  could  allow  the  detection  of  virtually  all  steel-hulled  boats  subject  to
VMS.  By  correlating  their  positions  with  VMS-derived  positions,  vessels  not  carrying  VMS
could  be  identified.  In  2002,  the  JRC  coordinated  a  partnership  involving  industry,  research
organisations and fisheries authorities which undertook pilot tests in Rockall, Cantabrico and
the North East Atlantic Fisheries Convention (NEAFC) redfish fishery. The Cantabrico region
includes two areas where fishing has been stopped for conservation purposes.

The  new  study  concentrated  on:  reducing  the  sea-noise  in  the  images  so  as  to  either  allow
smaller  vessels  to  be  detected  with  the  same  image  or  to  permit  the  use  of  lower  resolution
images  and  thus  increase  the  stretch  of  ocean  covered  by  each  image;  and  on  improving  the
speed  with  which  information  can  be  sent  to  the  authorities.  It  was  found  that  the  SAR
processors used at certain ground stations were more effective than others at noise reduction.
Following  experimentation  at  the  JRC  using  unprocessed  images,  recommendations  were
issued  for  the  following  year’s  studies.  Response  speed  was  increased  by  automation  of
algorithms  and,  in  December  2002,  a  high  bandwidth  satellite  communication  link  was
established  between  the  ground  station  at  Tromsø,  Norway  and  Ispra.  Finally,  Council
Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 obliged Member States to include the
capability for using satellite-based systems in their monitoring infrastructure.

The  JRC  is  also  supporting  Commission  efforts  to  develop  a  secure  harmonised  logbook  for
better  reporting  of  catches  and,  together  with  other  European  partners,  is  establishing  a
database of the genetic characteristics of European marine fish.

10

4.5.  Water Framework Directive

In  December  2000,  the  European  Parliament  and  Council  adopted  a  directive  establishing  a
framework of community action in the field of water policy – the Water Framework Directive
(WFD).  The  main  objectives  of  the  WFD  are  to  ensure  sustainable  water  use  throughout
Europe, and to achieve a “good status” for all European surface and ground waters by 2015.

The  implementation  of  the  Water  Framework  Directive  raises  a  number  of  shared  scientific
and technical challenges. Management objectives to be achieved in the river basin need to be
identified,  developed  and  implemented,  based  on  an  analysis  of  the  impact  of  human
pressures on the “status” of all waters within the river basin. Programmes of measures  needed
to  achieve  these  objectives  must  be  agreed  upon,  also  taking  into  account  an  economic
perspective.  In  the  WFD,  some  key  concepts  –  including  the  “good  status”  comprising  its
main environmental objective – are only defined in very general terms, and require a common
understanding  based  on  state-of-the-art  scientific  knowledge.  Harmonised  or  at  least
intercalibrated  assessment  methods  are  required  to  quantify  the  chemical  and  ecological
status.

The  JRC  is  playing  and  will  continue  to  play  a  major  role  in  the  Common  Implementation
Strategy  (CIS)  of  the  WFD,  in  support  of  the  European  Commission,  Member  States  and
Candidate  Countries.  The  aim  of  the  CIS  is  to  allow,  as  far  as  possible,  a  coherent  and
harmonised implementation of the Directive.  The  focus  of  the  CIS  is  on  information  sharing,
developing  guidance  on  scientific  and  technical  issues,  information  and  data  management,
and  application,  testing  and  validation.  More  than  500  experts  from  Member  States  and
the
Candidate  Countries, 
Environment DG are involved in the CIS.

the  European  Environment  Agency  (EEA)  and 

the  JRC, 

In 2002, the JRC co-ordinated two of the major CIS Working Groups (WGs) in collaboration
with  the  Environment  DG,  namely  the  Intercalibration  and  GIS/Reporting  groups.  The  JRC
also  acted  as  Technical  Secretariat  for  the  WG  on  Pilot  River  Basins,  and  contributed
scientific  and  technical  expertise  to  other  CIS  WGs.  The  JRC  co-ordinates  the  WG  on
Analysis and Monitoring of Priority Substances (AMPS) leading to a harmonised monitoring
strategy for chemicals in EU waters. The main products of these WGs in 2002 were a series of
comprehensive guidance documents approved by the Environment DG

In 2002, the JRC was involved in the development of environmental indicators for coastal and
inland water eutrophication, data gathering, analysis and modelling of river basins, as well as
the  development  and  implementation  of  advanced  chemical  monitoring  techniques  and
protocols. It was also engaged in the linking of remote sensing and three-dimensional coastal
modelling  for  environmental  indicator  development,  the  use  of  remote  sensing  to  determine
status  and  trends  of  coastal  waters,  and  the  modelling  of  land-ground  water  interactions.  In
November  2002,  the  JRC,  after  consultation  with  the  Environment  DG  and  the  Member
States,  launched  the  European  Centre  for  Ecological  Water  Quality  and  Intercalibration
(EEWAI)  to  serve  as  an  umbrella  for  the  intercalibration  exercise  and  to  act  as  a  focal  point
for research on ecological quality assessment.

The JRC is committed to contributing to the long-term implementation of the WFD through to
2009 providing key support to EU water policies, and research on key scientific and technical
questions.

11

4.6. 

Reaction to emergencies

Devastating  floods  in  Central  Europe.  In  recent  years,  severe  flooding  has  taken  place  in
Europe.  For  example,  in  1993  and  1995,  flooding  took  place  in  Belgium,  France,  Germany
and the Netherlands. In 1997, the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland were affected, Italy
in 1994 and 2000, and the UK in 1998 and 2000.

In  August  2002,  floods  yet  again  devastated  the  Elbe  and  the  Danube  Basin.  The  JRC  was
alerted  and  promptly  produced  and  delivered  daily  forecast  simulations  on  the  evolution  of
the  floods;  this  information  was  disseminated  via  the  Environment  DG’s  Monitoring  and
Information  Centre  to  the  civil  protection  authorities  in  the  Member  States  and  Candidate
Countries.  The  basis  for  the  simulation  was  a  computer  model  (LISFLOOD),  developed  by
the  JRC,  to  improve  the  forecasting  of  floods;  this  is  being  assessed  as  part  of  the
Commission’s  European  Flood  Alert  System.  The  aim  is  to  provide  four-  to  ten-day  flood
lead-times (time between its announcement and arrival). This demonstrates how the JRC can
convert research work into a quick response to an emergency situation.

Prestige tanker accident off Iberia. In November 2002, a serious accident occurred with the
oil tanker Prestige, which was sailing off the west coast of Galicia. Several thousand tonnes
of  its  heavy  fuel  oil  cargo  spilled  into  the  sea  before  the  ship  structure  collapsed  and  the
tanker broke into two some 160 km off the Spanish and Portuguese coast. In total the ship had
77 000 tonnes of heavy fuel on board.

Following the incident, the JRC provided technical advice and support to the Civil Protection
Unit of the Environment DG through interpretation and evaluation of radar satellite images –
especially  useful  at  night  and  in  cloudy  conditions.  Image  analysis  allowed  enhanced
assessment  and  monitoring  of  the  situation  both  at  sea  and  coast.  The  JRC  will  continue  to
provide this information for as long as it is needed.

Factory  explosion  in  Toulouse,  France.  The  explosion  at  the  AZF  factory  in  Toulouse  in
September 2001 claimed 30 lives, injured over 2000 people, and devastated a city area of over
1  km  in  diameter.  The  economic  impact  of  the  accident  will  be  in  the  order  of  hundreds  of
millions  of  Euro.  The  Environment  DG,  the  European  Parliament,  the  Committee  of
Competent Authorities and the French Government requested the JRC to assist in drawing up
“lessons to be learned” and strengthening regulations governing the use of ammonium nitrate
– in particular the Seveso II Directive (96/82/EC).

In response, the JRC organised an international workshop in 2002 on the storage and handling
of  ammonium  nitrate.  Its  conclusions  were  directly  introduced  into  an  amendment  to  the
Seveso  II  Directive.  Additionally,  the  JRC  assisted  the  Environment  DG  in  various  Council
working group meetings and also testified before the French national assembly at the enquiry
into the Toulouse accident.

12

4.7. 

Prospective studies on enlargement

In 2002, the JRC Enlargement Project was refocused according to the demands of the Lisbon
process.  The  project  examines  the  main  drivers  of  change  specific  to  the  integration  of  the
Candidate Countries, and analyses the challenges to enhance competitiveness and sustainable
development  in  an  enlarged  EU.  Based  on  the  JRC’s  own  scientific  achievements  and  its
neutral foresight on scientific and technical developments, the aim of the project is to inform
European policy-makers and the public about the significant results of scientific and technical
research.

This project has been actively supported by the Candidate Countries, which provided most of
the panel and steering group members and offered venues for the main meetings. This project
has also promoted the affiliation of Candidate Country organisations to the European Science
Technology  Observatory  (ESTO)  with  the  result  that  five  Candidate  Country  organisations
have already signed up as members. This membership will significantly facilitate and enhance
JRC specialised studies required for EU Enlargement.

In 2002, this project produced a wealth of study reports that were published by the JRC. The
second  phase  of 
the
Lisbon/Gothenburg/Barcelona process, in which the Candidate Countries will fully participate
once they join. These are:

thematic  blocks  relevant 

the  project  focused  on 

three 

to 

The  Competitiveness  Agenda,  dealing  with  economic  aspects  and  the  knowledge  society,
employment, employability and skills and social cohesion aspects;

The Sustainability Agenda, focusing on the set of structural indicators agreed by the European
Council to monitor the implementation of the EU Sustainable Development Strategy; and

Agriculture  in  Transition,  dealing  with  structural  change,  technological  developments,
competitiveness and the multi-functionality of the agricultural sector.

The  results  were  presented  and  discussed  in  Warsaw  in  November  2002;  all  information  on
these and other prospective studies are available at http://www.jrc.es.

Further results of the second phase were to be presented in Greece in May 2003 and at a final
conference in Italy in November 2003.

13

4.8. 

Safety of Central -and Eastern-European Nuclear Reactors

Electricity  generated  by  nuclear  power  plants  accounts  for  more  than  one  third  of  total  EU
electricity  production.  However,  the  life  distribution  of  this  energy  source  is  such  that  by
2005,  70%  of  current  nuclear  power  plants  will  be  over  20-years  old.  For  this  reason,
continuous  monitoring,  surveillance  and  research  are  vital  to  ensure  that  safety  standards  are
maintained both within, and in close proximity to, the EU.

With  over  40  years  experience  and  competence  in  the  field,  the  JRC  continues  to  develop
advanced  technologies,  harmonise  procedures  and  practices,  and  merge,  consolidate  and
disseminate R&D activities and knowledge at the European level.

Currently,  the  JRC  is  engaged  in  plant  management  studies  of  ageing  nuclear  installations
through  several  European  networks.  It  also  provides  technical  and  scientific  expertise  in  all
areas  of  the  well  known  “Phare”  and  “Tacis”  nuclear  safety  programmes  devoted  to  the
improvement  of  nuclear  facilities’  safety  in  Central  and  Eastern  Europe,  Russia,  the  Ukraine
and Armenia. Within its Enlargement Action, the JRC contributed to improving the safety of
nuclear  reactors  in  the  Candidate  Countries.  For  example,  its  TRANSURANUS  computer
software was released to eight Eastern-European countries to allow them to simulate reactor-
operating conditions in order to improve safety.

In  2002,  extended  analysis  of  all  available  water-cooled,  water-moderated  VVER-1000
pressurised  water  reactor  vessel  surveillance  data,  and  studies  of  the  effect  of  phosphorus,
copper  and  nickel  on  irradiation  embrittlement  (via  model  alloys),  were  carried  out  and  the
results  published  at  International  Atomic  Energy  Agency  (IAEA)  and  NATO  dedicated
conferences. The JRC has also compiled the results of the latest “Tacis” projects and defined
the  terms  of  reference  for  a  new  project  that  aims  to  provide  the  Russian  and  Ukrainian
nuclear  power  operators  with  conclusions  on  demonstrated  safety  margins  and  remaining
expected lifetimes.

The JRC will continue to support organisations concerned with nuclear safety, and especially
the External  Relations  DG,  the  European  Aid  Co-operation  Office  and  the  Enlargement  DG
and  the  Energy  and  Transport  (the  Nuclear  Regulator's  Working  Group)  DG,  in  helping  to
address  one  of  the  key  challenges  for  the  enlarged  Europe  –  the  establishment  of  an
affordable, sufficient and safe energy supply for European citizens.

14

4.9. 

New  Minor  Actinide 
management

laboratory 

fosters 

innovation 

in  nuclear  waste

Nuclear  waste  management  is  one  of  the  top  priorities  of  the  Euratom  Sixth  Framework
Programme and thus the Commission is committed to supporting the search for safe solutions
to nuclear waste management. To contribute to the quality of European research in this field,
the Commission inaugurated a new Minor Actinide laboratory at the JRC in September 2002.
This  laboratory  will  investigate  and  develop  innovative  ways  to  reduce  the  risks  associated
with  the  high  radiotoxicity  of  a  number  of  long-lived  radionuclides,  some  of  which  remain
toxic for up to several thousand years.

Long-lived  radionuclides  called  “minor  actinides”  (elements  such  as  neptunium,  americium
and  curium)  could  be  separated  from  the  spent  fuel  and  returned  to  a  dedicated  reactor  for
transmutation.  Transmutation  aims  to  transform  these  long-lived  elements  into  less  harmful
nuclides by decreasing their radiotoxicity significantly.

The Minor Actinide laboratory has been especially conceived to manufacture and characterise
the most suitable materials for the transmutation of long-lived radioactive elements. This new
laboratory consists of a series of shielded cells designed to protect the operators from neutron
and gamma radiation emitted by these radiotoxic elements. For the same reason, the materials
will be handled with telemanipulators, robots and through applying extensive automation with
remote  control.  The  main  purpose  is  to  bring  the  radiotoxic  elements  into  a  suitable  matrix,
which can then be safely introduced into a research reactor for transmutation.

 10  million,  the  new  Minor  Actinide  laboratory  will  be  one  of  the  major
At  a  cost  of  €
infrastructures within the European Research Area contributing to several projects in the field
of  waste  management.  In  addition,  on  the  day  of  the  inauguration,  a  ‘Memorandum  of
Understanding’ was signed with the "Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique " (CEA) in France –
the first element in the foundation of a European network in this field.

15

4.10.  Non-proliferation and nuclear safeguards

The JRC's nuclear safeguards activities aim to support a Euratom Treaty obligation entrusted
to the Commission to ensure a continuation of the Community's outstanding security record in
maintaining  efforts  to  avoid  proliferation.  New  challenges  have  been  introduced  with  the
enlargement  of  the  Union  together  with  the  needs  of  safeguarding  material  arising  from  the
disarmament  process,  the  fight  against  illicit  trafficking  of  nuclear  materials  and/or  the
emergence  of  new  technological  developments.  The  JRC  has  been  working  with  the  Energy
and  Transport  DG  (Euratom  Safeguards  office)  and  through  the  External  Relations  DG  (the
International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA) to strengthen the nuclear safeguards system by
providing  scientific,  technical  and  training  support.  In  the  context  of  Tacis,  the  JRC  co-
operates  with  the  Russian  Federation  in  its  quest  to  have  a  system  of  nuclear  materials
accountancy and control that is comparable with Western standards.

In  2002,  an  “Unattended  Measurement  Station”  for  the  verification  of  fresh  uranium  fuel
assemblies  was  developed  and  installed  by  the  JRC  at  a  fuel  fabrication  plant  in  France.
Combining  both  measurement  and  optical  identification  techniques,  it  can  be  left  unattended
for 100 working days. It was designed for both plant operation and inspection and guarantees
a  high  level  of  safeguards  while  preserving  the  industrial  productivity  of  the  plant.
Furthermore,  methods  for  analysing  samples  originating  from  advanced  fuels  and  from  new
types of fuel cycles were developed in the JRC. They include calorimetry examination for the
assay  of  plutonium  oxide  and  contribute  to  both  process  development  and  improved
safeguarding of advanced fuel cycles.

In  2002,  a  significant  effort  was  invested  in  the  control  of  reprocessing  facilities.  The  JRC
continued  to  operate  the  on-site  laboratories  at  the  large  plants  at  Sellafield  (UK)  and  La
Hague  (France).  Almost  a  thousand  samples  taken  by  Euratom  inspectors  in  these  facilities
were  analysed,  in  order  to  provide  independent  evidence  that  no  material  had  been  diverted.
Such  measurements  require  very  accurate  isotopic  reference  materials,  and  large  size  dried
spikes prepared in the JRC now form a basis for most of the destructive assays performed at
nuclear reprocessing plants throughout the world. To assist the Japanese in verifying the flow
of  nuclear  material,  mass  and  volume  monitoring  equipment  has  been  installed  as  part  of  a
contract  with  the  Japanese.  In  the  context  of  non-proliferation,  swipe  samples  collected  by
IAEA inspectors in nuclear installations have been analysed using particle analysis techniques
in order to verify the absence, or possibly detect the presence, of undeclared nuclear activities.
Advanced surveillance systems and imaging techniques for geographical information systems
have been developed to assist IAEA inspectors in the verification of nuclear site declarations.
Finally,  techniques  for  nuclear  forensic  investigations  were  refined,  in  particular  in  view  of
the determination of the age of uranium and of the origin of material.

To conclude this summation of 2002 activities, much emphasis was given to combating illicit
trafficking  of  nuclear  and  radioactive  materials  and  the  Candidate  Countries,  in  particular,
were assisted in setting up response plans in case of nuclear material seizure. Specific training
was also provided to experts from law enforcement and from radio-analytical laboratories and
essential measurement instruments for on-the-spot categorisation were supplied. The JRC will
continue,  in  the  Sixth  Framework  Programme,  to  provide  scientific,  technical  and  training
support for strengthening nuclear safeguards.

16

5. 

YOUNG SCIENTISTS' ACHIEVEMENTS

Employing  over  2000  people,  the  JRC  has  an  active  policy  of  attracting  bright  and  able
scientists. Staff come from throughout the EU, and from countries which have applied for EU
membership,  bringing  their  skills  and  talents  to  help  resolve  current  scientific  challenges.
Major  advantages  are  offered  by  the  scientific  and  cultural  diversity  in  the  JRC’s
multidisciplinary  Institutes  and  collaboration  networks  with  Member  State  and  Candidate
Country organisations. As a result, many JRC grant holders obtain direct employment in their
home countries and indeed elsewhere, following their training period in the JRC.

Every year the JRC Scientific Committee assesses and awards prizes to JRC young scientists
for both performance and publications. The results of this year’s assessment are documented
hereafter.

17

5.1. 

Awards to JRC Young Scientists

Francesca Campolongo, Young JRC Scientist of the Year

Scientific overview:  During  her  career  at  the  JRC,  Francesca  produced  original  theoretical
scientific  work  in  the  field  of  mathematical  modelling,  and  in  particular  on  uncertainty  and
sensitivity analysis of model output. While doing her PhD, she developed, implemented and
tested  a  new  sensitivity  analysis  method  to  estimate  second  order  effects,  based  on
mathematical  graph  theory.  She  also  carried  out  an  inter-comparison  of  different  sensitivity
analysis methods and drew conclusions on "when to use what". Francesca applied sensitivity
analysis  to  several  environmental  models  (models  for  fish  population  dynamics,  models
involved in climate change, etc.) and contributed to the improvement of these models and to
the understanding of the phenomena being studied.

In  2002,  she  focused  on  the  exploitation  of  sensitivity  analysis  techniques  in  a  field  that  has
not  been  fully  exploited  yet  –  that  of  financial  risk  assessment  and  management.  With  her
colleague, Alessandro Rossi, she published work describing how sensitivity analysis can be a
valuable  tool  to  help  solve  the  problem  of  hedging  a  financial  portfolio.  Together  with
Alessandro  and  officers  of  the  European  Investment  Bank,  she  produced  a  working  paper
describing  an  efficient  accounting  procedure  to  assist  the  bank  treasury  system  to  perform
bank accounting in accordance with international standards.

In  the  past  year,  Francesca  has  been  working  for  the  Internal  Market  DG  in  providing
scientific  and  technical  support  to  update  the  European  directive  on  Capital  Adequacy
(CAD3) for European banks and investment firms.

Background:  Francesca  joined  the  JRC  as  a  trainee  in  1996  and  went  on  to  complete  her

postgraduate training in Ispra. Since 2001, she has been a staff member.

Francesca graduated in applied mathematics at the University of Pisa, Italy in 1993. In
1994,  she  was  awarded  two  scholarships  from  the  Australian  Government  and  moved
to  Griffith  University  (Brisbane,  Australia)  where  in  1998,  she  completed  her  PhD  in
modelling  and  sensitivity  analysis  at  the  Faculty  of  Environmental  Sciences.  Her  PhD
was  co-supervised  by  Andrea  Saltelli,  a  member  of  the  JRC  staff,  who  hosted
Francesca  in  Ispra  for  two  six-month  periods  to  supervise  her  research.  Whilst  doing
her  PhD,  in  1995  Francesca  spent  a  month  at  Cornell  University  (New  York,  USA),
where  she  was  selected  to  participate  in  an  international  summer  school  (limited  to  20
participants) on ecological modelling. Since 1998, she has been working in Ispra developing
research  on  sensitivity  analysis  and  applying  the  most  advanced  techniques  to  a  variety  of
different  problems  (e.g.  environmental  models,  and  models  for  financial  risk  assessment  and
management).

“In my experience the JRC is an excellent environment for young scientists. Not only have
we the opportunity to improve our skills and scientific knowledge by working closely with
outstanding  researchers,  but  we  also  enjoy  our  working  time  because  the  JRC  is  a
multicultural friendly environment.”

18

Maurice Whelan, Award for scientific innovation

Scientific overview:  Maurice  is  author  of  eight  international  patents  and  in  1999  was  joint
recipient of the UK Department of Trade and Industry award for “Metrology for World Class
Manufacturing”. He joined the JRC in 1994 as a post-doctoral fellow and later became a staff
member. Currently he is head of the biomedical optics sector of the JRC. He has contributed
to raising the profile of biomedical technology in the scientific community and the horizontal
aspects  of  his  work  are  fruitful  for  other  JRC  projects,  in  particular  chemical  sensing  and
nanotechnology.  As  an  expert  in  biophotonics,  an  area  that  is  expected  to  expand  rapidly  in
the  next  decade,  he  contributes  to  the  JRC  priority  areas  in  health  technologies,  food  safety
and chemical substances, helping to improve the scientific basis for better exposure-based risk
assessment. A highlight of 2002 was the granting of a US patent (No  6,393,315)  related  to  a
novel  fluorescence  imaging  approach  for  early  detection  of  disease,  including  cancer.  A
prototype  endoscope  for  minimally  invasive  diagnostics  should  be  ready  for  clinical  trials  in
2003.

Background:  Maurice  graduated  in  1990  from  the  University  of  Limerick,  Ireland,  with  a
degree  in  mechanical  engineering.  He  went  on  to  complete  his  PhD  in  computational  and
experimental  stress  analysis  in  1994,  having  spent  time  at  the  University  of  Liverpool
and University College Swansea. Since then he has worked in the field of applied optics,
targeting  his  research  in  a  number  of  different  areas  such  as  smart  aerospace  materials
and structures, industrial inspection and process control, and the protection of historical
buildings. His current research interests include laser techniques at the micro- and nano-
scale, fibre optic sensors and medical imaging.

“Working  at  the  JRC  has  allowed  me  to  develop  scientifically,  enabling  me  to  take  on
challenges in new and exciting fields of research.”

19

Janna Puumalainen, Award for contribution to environmental research

Scientific overview:  Janna  joined  the  JRC  as  a  post-doctorate  grant  holder  in  2000.  Her
scientific  work  aims  to  improve  the  knowledge  base  for  environmental  protection,  improve
biodiversity  monitoring  in  Europe  and  gain  better  understanding  of  the  causes  and  processes
leading  to  the  depletion  of  biodiversity.  Her  work  paid  particular  attention  to  both  forest
biodiversity  and  the  interactions  between  different  land  use  forms  such  as  forests  and  water
systems or forests and agricultural areas. For instance, she assessed, for the first time, the state
of  forest  biodiversity  in  the  whole  pan-European  area  by  using  comparable  national-level
data.

In 2002, she was involved in the development of biodiversity monitoring approaches by using
statistical  and  modelling  techniques  to  integrate  different  kinds  of  data.  She  also  joined  the
Biotechnology  and  GMOs  unit,  and  currently  works  on  biometrics  related  to  genetically
modified organisms and their monitoring in food, feed and the environment.

Background:  After  completing  her  MSc  in  forestry  in  1994  at  the  University  of  Joensuu,
Finland,  Janna  proceeded  to  complete  her  PhD  at  the  Institute  of  forest  growth  and
management  at  the  University  of  Göttingen.  She  then  joined  the  JRC  in  2000  to
complete  her  post-doctorate  training  in  the  Land  Management  unit  and,  to  date,
Janna  has  pursued  her  career  in  no  less  than  six  countries,  namely  Belgium,
Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy and South Africa.

“The opportunity to work on an integrated research project at the JRC is unique, because
you  profit  not  only  from  the  diversity  of  the  topics,  ideas  and  scientific  backgrounds  but
also from the diversity of the people and culture.”

20

5.2. 

Awards for best Publication

Best scientific publication of the year

‘Determination of Deforestation Rates of the World's Humid Tropical Forests’ (in Science)

Frédéric  Achard,  Hugh  D.  Eva,  Hans-Jürgen  Stibig,  Philippe  Mayaux,  Javier  Callego,
Timothy  Richards,  Jean-Paul  Malingreau  (all  except  T.  Richards  are  JRC  scientists)  Science
297, 999 (2002).

Scientific overview: A recently completed research program (TREES) employing the global
imaging  capabilities  of  Earth-observing  satellites  provides  updated  information  on  the  status
of the world's humid tropical forest cover. Between 1990 and 1997, 5.8 ± 1.4 million hectares
of humid tropical forest were lost each year, with a further 2.3 ± 0.7 million hectares of forest
visibly  degraded.  These  figures  indicate  that  the  global  net  rate  of  change  in  forest  cover  for
the  humid  tropics  is  23%  lower  than  the  generally  accepted  rate.  This  result  affects  the
calculation of carbon fluxes in the global budget and means that the terrestrial sink is smaller
than previously inferred.

This new data will help reduce uncertainties in the global carbon budget, as well as providing
accurate  baseline  views  for  biodiversity  assessments  and  help  in  planning  strategies  for
sustainable  forest  management.  Through  this  project,  a  sound  basis  for  forest  monitoring  in
the  tropics  has  been  established  and  important  new  data  concerning  this  valuable  global
resource were produced.

Background:  Frédéric  completed  his  studies  as  an  “ingénieur  polytechnicien”  in  1984  and
graduated  with  a  Masters  degree  in  image  processing  from  Strasbourg  University  in  1986,  a
PhD  in  tropical  ecology  and  remote  sensing  from  Toulouse  University  in  1989,  and  a
“Habilitation à diriger des recherches”  from  the  latter  university  in  1997.  Having  first  worked
the  International  Vegetation  Map
in  optical  remote  sensing  at 
(CNRS/University)  in  Toulouse,  he  later  became  a  seconded  national  expert  from  the
French Ministry of Agriculture and Forest to the JRC in Ispra. Here he started a research
activity over Southeast Asia in the framework of the “TRopical Ecosystem Environment
observations  by  Space”  (TREES)  project.  Having  joined  the  JRC  in  1992,  his  current
research  interests  include  development  of  Earth-observation  techniques  for  global  and
regional forest assessments and monitoring.

the  Institute  for 

“The working conditions in the TREES project were highly satisfying especially in terms of
human environment and competencies. The TREES group reached scientific excellence, in
particular through efficient co-operation with a large number of external partners both in
Europe and the tropics."

21

5.3. 

Three innovative publications of the year

‘Fission of actinides using a tabletop laser’ (in Europhysics Letters)

Heinrich  Schwoerer,  Friederike  Ewald,  Roland  Sauerbrey,  Jean  Galy,  Joseph  Magill,
Vincenzo Rondinella, Roland Schenkel and Tilman Butz. Europhysics Letters 61, 47 (2003)

Scientific overview:  This  publication  was  the  first  demonstration  of  nuclear  fission  using  a
high  repetition  rate  tabletop  laser.  The  JRC  set  up  the  fission  experiment  and  performed  the
radiation measurements to demonstrate the fission process. Jean has played a key role in three
projects  running  at  the  JRC.  In  the  project  on  laser-induced  nuclear  reactions,  experiments
demonstrated  the  first  fission  of  thorium  using  a  high  intensity  laser  and  confirmed  the
fissioning of uranium and thorium using a giant pulse VULCAN laser. Furthermore, Jean has
investigated a neutron booster concept, on which the JRC has now a world patent and played
a  key  role  in  developing  the  “nuclides.net”  commercial  computer  package  for  computations
on radionuclides and their radiation.

Background: Jean graduated in 1991 (Baccalaureate) at Aix-en-Provence and went on to do
a Masters degree in physics at the University of Marseille (1995). After obtaining a one-
year  postgraduate  diploma  in  reactor  physics,  he  moved  to  Sweden  to  work  on
experimental  nuclear  physics  and  defended,  in  parallel,  a  Swedish  Licentiate  in  nuclear
physics  at  the  Uppsala  University.  His  PhD  at  the  University  of  Marseille  in  1999  was
awarded  by  the  French  Nuclear  Society  (SFEN).  In  2000,  he  joined  the  JRC  as  a  post-
doctoral fellow and is now working as an auxiliary agent.

“Working  with  the  JRC  provides  many  opportunities  for  innovative  research  in  an
international environment. Excellent facilities and networks of collaboration with scientific
experts  throughout  the  EU  encourage  my  involvement  in  exciting  research  and
development.”

22

‘Neutron-Induced  Fission  Cross  Section  of  233Pa  between  1.0  and  3.0  MeV’  (in  Physical
Review Letters)

Fredrik  Tovesson,  F.-J.  Hambsch,  A.  Oberstedt,  B.  Fogelberg,  E.  Ramström,  and  S.
Oberstedt. Physical Review Letters 88, 62502 (2002).

Scientific overview:  The  energy-dependent,  neutron-induced  fission  cross  section  of  Pa-233
(Protactinium 233) has been measured directly for the first time with monoenergetic neutrons.
This  nuclide  is  an  important  intermediary  in  a  thorium-based  fuel  cycle,  and  its  fission  cross
section  is  a  key  parameter  in  the  modelling  of  future  advanced  fuel  and  reactor  concepts.  A
first experiment resulted in four cross section values between 1.0 and 3.0 MeV, establishing a
fission  threshold  in  excess  of  1  MeV.  Significant  discrepancies  were  found  with  a  previous
indirect experimental determination and with model estimates.

Background: Fredrik started his PhD fellowship with the JRC in February 2000. Having first
become  acquainted  with  the  gas  effects  prevalent  in  ionisation  chamber  detectors,  he
quickly  acquired  the  know-how  on  the  experimental  set-up,  data  analysis,  the  use  of
computer codes for neutron transport calculations and theoretical evaluation of the data.
The  experiments  were  conducted  using  the  JRC’s  seven  million  volt  Van  de  Graaff
accelerator.  Fredrik  presented  his  results  at  the  International  Conference  on  Nuclear
Data for Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Japan.

"Being  a  PhD  fellow  in  the  JRC  has  allowed  me  to  work  in  an  excellent  research
environment, with access to unique facilities and expert knowledge in the field. One of the
core  activities  of  the  JRC  Reference  Laboratory  for  Neutron  Physics  is  to  provide  basic
nuclear data in support to waste treatment and advanced reactor concepts – taking part in
this important task has been a truly rewarding experience."

‘Plutonium-based superconductivity above 18 K’ (in Nature)

J.L.  Sarrao,  L.A.  Morales,  J.D.  Thompson,  B.L.  Scott,  G.R.  Stewart,  F.  Wastin,  J.  Rebizant,
Pascal Boulet, E. Colineau, and G. H. Lander. Nature 420, 297 (2002).

Overview: Plutonium is a metal of both technological relevance, due to its nuclear instability
and  associated  radioactivity,  and  fundamental  scientific  interest.  Despite  its  acknowledged
importance,  the  electronic  structure  of  plutonium,  which  directly  influences  its  metallurgical
properties,  is  poorly  understood.  This  work  reports  on  the  observation  of  superconductivity,
for the first time of a plutonium compound, with a rather high transition temperature of about
18.5  K.  This,  and  the  related  effects,  would  be  of  technological  importance  for  applied
superconductivity.

Background: Having completed his PhD in uranium solid state chemistry at the University of
Rennes in 1997, Pascal moved to the “Institute für Physikalishe-Chemie” at the University
of Vienna where he completed his post-doctorate research in rare-earth based compounds
studies.  Obtaining  a  three-year  European  Marie  Curie  Grant,  Pascal  joined  the  JRC  in
1999  and  is  currently  working  on  the  “Synthesis  of  new  Transuranium  Compounds  –
Crystallographic Study (powder and single crystal)”.

“Working with the JRC is most stimulating and gives you the possibility to collaborate with
people from all over the world.”

23

6. 

CONTRIBUTING TO THE EUROPEAN R ESEARCH AREA

The main objective of the European Research Area (ERA) is to strengthen the EU’s position
in international research through a better organisation and integration of research activities
in Europe. Promoting joint work between national laboratories and avoiding duplication of
efforts is an important step towards building ERA.

Mechanisms that fed into the JRC’s contribution to ERA in 2002 included drawing up a
concrete ERA action plan, structuring the multi-annual work programme to incorporate a
strong ERA dimension and increasing the JRC’s contribution to EU enlargement.

24

6.1. 

ERA Action Plan

Networking is at the heart of the European Research Area: it is the main instrument to tackle
fragmentation  and  isolation  of  research  activities  and  the  underlying  tool  of  the  Sixth
Framework  Programme  (FP6)  and  its  new  research  funding  instruments.  The  JRC  needs
strong  partnerships  with  public  and  private  organisations  in  Member  States  and  Candidate
Countries  in  order  to  implement  its  mission,  realise  its  work  programme  and  deliver  high-
quality  results.  This  collaboration  is  called  for  by  the  very  nature  of  the  JRC's  work  –
harmonisation  and  validation  of  methods  and  measurements,  establishment  of  common
standards,  and  the  provision  of  scientific  and  technical  support  in  the  implementation  of
European legislation.

The JRC also  responds to European policy-makers’ and Member States’ increasing demands
to  establish  common  scientific  reference  systems.  It  also  allows  the  JRC  to  play  a  catalytic
role in pulling together research efforts from Member States and Candidate Countries, helping
the  latter  to  rapidly  integrate  into  the  Community  research  scene  and  implement  the  body  of
EU law ('acquis communautaire').

The ERA Action Plan was drafted in 2002 and sets ambitious targets for JRC's insertion into
the European Research Area by concentrating on five activities:

Development and operation of Common Scientific Reference Systems;

Increased networking with high-quality national and European organisations ;

Targeted multinational and multidisciplinary training and mobility schemes;

Extended access and use of JRC research infrastructures, also for training purposes; and

Integration  of  enlargement  activities  into  the  JRC  work  programme,  mainly  through  joint
projects and training.

These  activities  complement  each  other  and  are  often  implemented  in  combination.  For
example, the use of mobility instruments to stimulate exchange of researchers is an important
support  measure  for  networking,  and  training  through  research  benefits  from  access  to
infrastructure facilities. Networking with key players is necessary to provide the critical mass
and scientific quality to build up scientific reference systems.

In 2002, the JRC recorded collaboration with more than 2000 partners in over 250 networks,
access  to  JRC  facilities  increased  as  did  training  and  mobility  schemes,  and  support  to  the
enlargement process.

25

6.2. 

Support to Enlargement

Enlargement  of  the  European  Union  not  only  brings  a  wealth  of  different  histories  and
cultures but also a population increase of 105 million people and a land area increase of 34%.
On  29  October  2002,  a  total  of  13  countries  signed  association  agreements  to  the  Sixth
Framework  Programme  –  EU  enlargement  is  now  reality  in  the  European  Research  Area.
These Candidate Countries will have the same rights and obligations as the Member States in
FP6.

However  the  Commission  noted,  in  its  latest  progress  reports,  that  additional  preparation  is
still  needed  in  certain  policy  fields,  including  customs  service,  air  and  water  quality,  waste
management,  veterinary  and  plant-health  controls,  and  management  and  supervision  of  the
agricultural policy. The implementation of such policies requires a strong scientific base and
here  the  JRC  is  assisting  and  will  increase  its  support  in  transferring  relevant  practices,
references and know-how.

In FP5, the JRC opened up its work programme to include the Candidate Countries at a total
  20  million.  Some  18  of  its  80  projects  were  extended  to  allow  direct  co-operation
cost of  €
with  scientific  organisations  in  the  areas  of  environment,  nuclear  safety  and  safeguards,
harmonisation  of  measurements,  support  to  the  agricultural  policy,  food  and  chemical
products, and prospective analysis and modelling.

In  2002,  the  JRC  launched  an  additional  programme  called  “Collaboration  and  advanced
training” which resulted in 60 workshops and an active training programme that involved no
less  than  1200  scientists  from  Candidate  Countries.  Participants  in  this  programme  were
nominated  by  the  Candidate  Country  missions  to  the  EU  with  the  help  of  the  JRC  National
Contact  Points.  The  result  has  been  a  marked  increase  in  guest  scientists,  for  example  33
visiting  scientists  in  2001  quickly  grew  to  67  in  2002  and  a  further  increase  to  over  120  is
expected  for  2003.  This  action  also  increased  Candidate  Country  participation  in  networks.
For  example  at  the  start  of  FP5,  Candidate  Country  partner  representation  in  networks  was
minimal but quickly grew to a total of 270 by the end of 2002, i.e. already representing over
13% of the JRC's 2000 partners.

Based  on  the  progress  and  experience  gained  in  FP5,  the  JRC  has  drawn  up  a  new  project
portfolio  for  FP6  in  close  collaboration  with  the  newly  established  partners.  Emphasis  in  the
first two years will be to accelerate the uptake of the body of EU law. Workshops and training
will  incorporate  new  multimedia  techniques  for  e-learning  –  such  as  a  newly  developed
demonstration  on  GMO  identification.  New  temporary-job  openings  for  visiting  scientists,
seconded  National 
(see
experts 
www.jrc.cec.eu.int/enlargement ).

holders  will 

sought 

grant 

also 

and 

be 

The JRC’s Enlargement action is fulfilling the commitment of the Director-General to be ‘in
the front line of this major European initiative’.

26

6.3. 

Support to GMES Initiative

Harmonised  geo-spatial  databases  allowing  consistent  and  rapid  integration  of  data  from
satellites are crucial  to meet the needs of EU, governmental and private agencies dealing with
issues  such  as  environment,  resource  management,  regional  development,  civil  protection,
research  and  security.  The  JRC  has  been  involved  in  the  development  of  data-gathering
technologies and the harmonisation of databases for more than a decade now and has played a
vital  role  in  the  foundation  of  the  Global  Monitoring  system  for  Environment  and  Security
(GMES).

GMES  forms  a  key  element  in  the  overall  European  strategy  for  space.  The  initiative  was
established  by  representatives  of  the  European  Commission,  the  European  Space  Agency
(ESA), 
the  exploitation  of  meteorological  satellites
(EUMETSAT),  the  European  Association  of  Remote  Sensing  Companies  (EARSC),
European industry and national space agencies.

the  European  organisation  for 

Satellite  data  on  global  land  cover,  burnt  area  and  deforestation  rates  helps  in  the  study  of
climate  change.  The  JRC  collects  indicators:  for  example,  recently  supplied  satellite-derived
information  on  the  status  of  the  world’s  humid  tropical  forest  cover  (TREES  project)  is
contributing  to  a  better  understanding  of  carbon  balance.  Satellite  data  also  plays  an
increasing  role  in  crisis  situations  such  as  floods  and  fires:  for  example,  European  and
national  one-  and  three-day  forest  fire  risk  forecast  maps  are  produced  and  transmitted  to  all
civil protection and forest fire services in the Mediterranean region through a pre-operational
user-driven service referred to as Fire Risk Watch.

Furthermore, the JRC hosts the World Data Centre for Aerosols for the World Meteorological
Organisation and an associated GMES project aims at integrating aerosol measurements from
space and ground-based platforms.

The JRC has developed methods for using satellite images to monitor agriculture with remote
sensing (MARS) for the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), to support the fight against fraud
and  provide  crop  yield  forecasts.  High-resolution  commercial  satellite  imagery,  showing
details of one metre or less, became available from 2000 and the JRC has been demonstrating
the  opportunities  this  offers  for  humanitarian  aid,  demining  and  damage  assessment  for
reconstruction. Finally, it also contributes through verifying vessel positions for the Common
Fisheries Policy.

To conclude, the JRC, through its mission, helps in shaping GMES services and its capacity
to respond, more adequately, to the needs expressed by other Commission services.

27

6.4. 

FP6 and the Multi Annual Work Programme

In  2002,  the  JRC  prepared  its  multi-annual  work  programme  for  2003  to  2006.  This  is  in
accordance  with  (1)  the  “specific  programme  of  research,  technological  development  and
demonstration  to  be  carried  out  by  means  of  direct  action  by  the  JRC  (2002-2006)”  and  (2)
the  “specific  programme  for  research  and  training  to  be  carried  out  by  the  JRC  by  means  of
direct action for the European Atomic Energy Community (2002-2006),

The multi-annual work programme is organised according to four core areas, namely:

(1) Food, chemical products and health;

(2) Environment and sustainability;

(3) Nuclear safety and security; and

(4) Horizontal activities.

Within  these  core  areas,  eight  thematic  and  three  horizontal  (technology  foresight,  reference
materials  and  measurements,  public  security  and  anti-fraud)  activities  have  been  selected  to
represent  the  best  match  between  policy  needs  and  JRC  competencies.  Each  priority  is
composed  of  a  series  of  Integrated  Scientific  Areas  (ISAs),  which  identify  the  particular
aspects of the research covered by the JRC. This new structure is unique in that it is the first
time  ISAs,  composed  of  activities  from  more  than  one  Institute,  are  shared  between  the
Institutes and this will inevitably enhance the cohesion and focus of the JRC. These priorities
reunite  the  JRC´s  activities  with  respect  to  the  objectives  of  its  mission  while  the  ISAs
organise its competencies and streamline its inter-disciplinary efforts around specific areas of
work to draw on synergies from the research carried out in the JRC´s specialised competency
areas.

The ISAs and their content have been established in response to needs expressed and defined
during consultations with JRC customers. Integration of research capabilities will ensure that
the  JRC  achieves  the  needed  focusing  of  its  activities  on  core  priorities,  an  enhanced
effectiveness  in  delivering  high  quality  output  through  synergy  and  collaboration,  and  a
significant level of involvement.

After  a  first  round  of  in-depth  internal  discussions  with  the  seven  JRC  Institutes,  the  multi-
annual  work  programme  was  elaborated  through  extensive  consultations  with  the  JRC  High
Level Users Group (Directors-General of key policy DGs in the Commission), the JRC Board
of  Governors  (representatives  of  the  EU  Member  States  together  with  participants  from  the
Candidate  and  Associated  Countries)  and  with  the  Commissioner  for  Research,  Philippe
Busquin, and his Cabinet.

28

JRC activities for the Sixth Framework Programme

Scientific topics

1. Food, Chemical Products and Health
Safety and quality of food and feed
Food chain: from agriculture to consumer protection
GMOs in food, feed, seeds and the environment
Assessment of chemicals and exposure
Alternative methods to animal testing
Technologies for biomedical applications
Health and environment: addressing exposure via human envirogenomics

2. Environment and Sustainability
Air quality and environmental radioactivity
Water quality and aquatic ecosystems
Soils and waste management
Land resources
Integration of sustainability into other policy areas
Climate change: the Kyoto protocol and beyond
Monitoring and assessing ecosystem sustainability
The Sustainable Energy Technologies Reference & Information System
Renewable energies and advanced energy conversion technologies

3. Nuclear Safety and Security
Management of spent fuel and of radioactive waste
Nuclear security (safeguards and non proliferation)
Reactor and nuclear fuel safety
Radiation monitoring
Basic actinide research

4. Horizontal Activities
4.1 Technology Foresight
Technology foresight in other JRC priorities
Cross-cutting techno-economic foresight
Statistical methods for analysis of economic indicators

4.2 Reference Materials and Measurements
Reference materials and methods in other JRC priorities
BCR  (Bureau  Communautaire  de  Référence)  and  industrial  certified
reference materials
Metrology in chemistry and radionuclide metrology
Metrology in physics: neutron data measurements

4.3 Public Security and Antifraud
Antifraud  and  monitoring  compliance  with  EU  regulations  in  selected
policies
Support to cybersecurity
Technological and natural risks
Contribution to Commission objectives in humanitarian aid and assistance

29

6.5. 

Technology Transfer

The  JRC  generates  research  results  with  commercial  potential  and,  since  March  2002,  is
responsible  for  managing  the  intellectual  property  –  such  as  patents,  trademarks  and
copyrights  –  of  the  European  Union.  To  realise  its  potential,  the  JRC  requires  industrial
partners  since  researchers  in  public  institutions  frequently  lack  commercial  instinct  or
awareness, a major reason why much knowledge and technology remains unexploited. A key
aim  for  the  European  Research  Area  (ERA)  is  to  change  attitudes  and  raise  awareness,  both
with  public  institutions  and  within  the  Commission,  of  the  commercial  potential  of  such
research results.

that  benefit  European  society.  The 

In recent years, the JRC has sought to transfer the technologies developed by its staff in new
ways 
include  provision  of
entrepreneurship training and advice for spin-off company creation. The Centre also took part
in  a  consortium  of  European  public  research  organisations  that  work  together  to  develop
expertise  in  spin-offs  and  technology  transfer.  Since  all  the  organisations  face  similar
constraints in developing this aspect of their activities, they can assist each other in providing
focused advice and support activities for their researchers.

instruments  set  up 

For would-be entrepreneurs, regulations require that such researchers leave the service of the
Commission before establishing independent enterprises, but many are deterred by the lack of
knowledge of business  processes.  The  JRC  therefore  organises  entrepreneurship  courses  and
in  2002,  ten  people  received  practical  training  in  basic  management  skills  and  new  business
planning.  Two  new  companies  were  formed,  and  the  launch  of  several  others  is  being
prepared.

Of around 130 patented inventions owned by the Communities, about 90% are generated by
the  JRC.  In  2002,  JRC  researchers  filed  17  new  applications  for  patents  and  software
copyrights.  Recent  patent  and  licensing  successes  include  a  plasma  treatment  apparatus  to
reduce  infection  caused  by  medical  devices,  fibre  optic  sensors  to  yield  information  on  the
deformation  of  engineering  structures  and  an  interactive  multimedia  tool  for  computations
involving radionuclides and their radiation.

30

6.6. 

The High Flux Reactor Supplementary Programme

The High Flux Reactor (HFR) supplementary programme, financed by France, Germany and
The  Netherlands,  is  managed  by  the  Joint  Research  Centre.  The  HFR,  located  in  Petten,  The
Netherlands, is one of the most powerful multi-purpose research and test reactors in the world
and  today  its  operation  has  been  entrusted  to  the  Netherlands  Energy  Research  Foundation
(NRG).  Having  provided  irradiation  and  post-irradiation  examination  services  for  over  3
decades,  in  recent  years  its  mission  was  extended  to  medical  support  both  through  the
production  of  radioisotopes  and  patient  treatment  at  the  Boron  Neutron  Capture  Therapy
Facility  (BNCT).  Today  the  HFR  is  the  European  leader  in  terms  of  radioisotope  production
volume.

In 2002, additional indications on weld anomalies originally discovered in the summer 2001
inspection  combined  with  internal  management  problems  between  the  NRG,  the  HFR
operator, and the Energy Centrum Netherlands (ECN), together led to serious concerns about
plant  safety.  Thus  on  8  February  2002,  the  Commission,  in  agreement  with  NRG  and  the
Dutch nuclear safety authority, the “Kernfysische  Dienst” (KFD), decided to temporarily shut
down the reactor. The shutdown of the HFR raised major concerns for the continued supply of
medical  radioisotopes  and  the  issue  was  raised  during  an  emergency  debate  at  the  Dutch
Parliament in February 2002.

This shutdown period was used for an external safety culture review performed by an IAEA
expert  group,  the  implementation  of  improvement  actions  and  an  external  inspection  of  the
welding anomaly found in weld 22 of the reactor vessel during the summer 2001 inspection.
The  IAEA  review  mainly  concluded  that  the  reactor  was  in  good  condition  with
recommendations  and  suggestions  for  further  safety  improvements.  As  a  consequence,  a
programme  on  safety  culture  improvement  was  set-up  and  an  external  inspection  of  the
welding  anomaly  allowed  the  reactor  to  start  again  on  22  March  and  operations  have
continued  in  a  normal  manner  since  then.  A  new  service  inspection  will  take  place  in  the
summer of 2003.

31

7. 

DECOMMISSIONING OF JRC NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS

The management of nuclear installations, built for the purposes of the Euratom Treaty, falls
under the responsibility of the Commission throughout their complete life spans until they are
delicensed. To comply with the Euratom Treaty, the Commission – and thus the JRC in each
of  its  establishments  –  applies  national  and  EU  legislation  concerned  with  the  transport,
processing, temporary storage and final disposal of nuclear materials, as well as the safety
and security regulations applicable to nuclear installations and materials. In accordance with
this  legislation,  the  JRC  is  committed  to  protect  both  the  public  and  the  environment  from
radiological  hazards  and  is  thus  required  to  decommission  and  shutdown  nuclear
installations and manage the associated waste.

To  this  end,  the  JRC  has  developed  a  Decommissioning  and  Waste  Management  (D&WM)
programme. This D&WM programme is managed in each JRC establishment by a specialised
team, under the review of the D&WM Expert Group, which is composed of external experts
designated  by  Member  States  and  chaired  by  the  Deputy  Director-General.  The  objective  of
the  programme  is  to  plan,  support  and  supervise  the  progressive  elimination  of  the  JRC’s
historical  liabilities,  including  obsolete  nuclear  facilities  and  waste  management  installations.
The  ultimate  goal  is  the  return  of  the  obsolete  facilities  to  a  situation  where  no  radioactive
hazard remains, thus allowing reuse of the land and of the buildings for non-nuclear purposes.

32

7.1. 

The present Status

In  2002,  decommissioning  of  the  radiochemistry  building  at  the  JRC  site  in  Geel,  Belgium
was completed and on 11 October, Commissioner Busquin inaugurated the reopening of this
building  for  research  in  food,  health  and  environment  related  issues.  At  the  JRC  site  in
Karlsruhe,  Germany,  main  activities  in  2002  concerned  the  dismantling  of  some  30  glove
boxes  and  the  characterisation  of  nuclear  waste.  At  the  Ispra  site,  progress  was  made  in  the
provision of waste management facilities. The setting up of a transit store, including weighing
station  and  portals,  for  clearance  of 
the  materials  has  been  completed  and  both
characterisation and clearance plants progressed to a very advanced stage – both plants will be
completed in early 2003. The decontamination plant and the station for the treatment of liquid
effluents have both been equipped with heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and
for  the  latter,  the  programme  for  hot  commissioning  has  been  prepared  and  sent  to  the
fire
authorities 
detection/prevention systems, radiation monitoring equipment, etc., and the design and safety
reports of the final two facilities have also been prepared.

treatment  plants  were 

approval.  Finally, 

equipped  with 

for 

A  significant  milestone  was  reached  in  pre-decommissioning  activities.  The  inventory  of
nuclear/strategic material has been further minimised by transferring 23 tonnes of heavy water
(i.e.  half  of  the  inventory)  to  Canada.  More  than  200  tonnes  of  waste  from  the  hot  cells,
reactors  and  other  facilities  have  been  released  after  checking  and/or  decontamination.
Finally, in the field of licensing/safe conservation, the approvals for the removal of additional
components such as aerial pipelines were received.

The  decommissioning  programme  was  initially  launched  in  2000  and  now,  two  years  down
the road, a decision was taken to review the situation both in terms of assessing the technical
content  and  financial  implications.  Thus  in  2002,  a  European  consortium  led  by  the  Belgian
Nuclear Centre (SCK.CEN)  was  entrusted  with  this  task.  The  report,  to  be  available  early  in
2003,  will  be  submitted  to  the  relevant  Advisory  Bodies  (Expert  Group  and  Board  of
Governors).

In  2003,  the  JRC  will  continue  with  the  decommissioning  programme  and  prepare  a  new
Communication to the European Parliament and Council on an updated programme.

33

8. 

THE JRC IN FIGURES

8.1. 

Staff

The core staff of the JRC (M-male, F-female) is composed of the following categories:

Staff (end-of-year situation)

2001

2001

2001

2002

2002

2002

Officials

Temporary agents on 5-year renewable contracts

Temporary agents on 3-year non-renewable contracts

M

589

588

77

F

Total

M

F

Total

161

205

38

750

793

115

714

458

64

235

154

17

949

612

81

TOTAL

1254

404

1658

1236

406

1642

Of the above-mentioned total, 1311 staff members can be considered as scientific staff out of
which about 81 are employed on short term contracts (one to three years). During the course
of  the  year,  the  total  number  of  staff  fell  by  16,  the  number  of  departures  exceeding  the
number  of  new  recruits.  In  2002,  the  Commission  policy  for  staff  financed  on  the  research
budget  was  modified  in  accordance  with  the  White  Paper  on  Commission  Reform  that  has
called  for  the  “integration  of  research  staff  into  the  mainstream  of  the  Commission’s
personnel  policy”.  The  objective  of  this  policy  is  to  reach  65  to  90  %  of  the  total  statutory
staff  as  officials  and  to  keep  a  margin  of  flexibility  of  between  10  and  35%  of  permanent
research posts for the recruitment of specialised staff to cope with needs that are strictly time-
limited.

Staff Distribution

(end-of-year situation)

Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements

Institute for Transuranium Elements

Institute for Energy

Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen

Institute for Environment and Sustainability

Institute for Health and Consumer Protection

Institute for Prospective Technological Studies

DG, Scientific Strategy and Resources Directorates

2001

2002

TOTAL

M

M

127

170

128

194

210

88

43

F

40

40

24

50

60

54

15

167

210

152

244

270

142

127

175

130

193

100

58

39

184

51

F

41

40

24

56

58

17

TOTAL

168

215

154

235

249

158

56

294

121

415

288

119

407

Total

1254

404

1658

1236

406

1642

34

8.2. 

Visiting staff

In  addition  to  its  core  staff,  the  JRC  also  hosts  grant  holders,  visiting  scientists,  seconded
national  experts,  auxiliaries  and  trainees  coming  from  the  Member  States,  Candidate
Countries or elsewhere.

While  visiting  staff  are  attracted  by  the  JRC’s  cultural  diversity,  its  multidisciplinary
Institutes  and  collaboration  networks,  they,  in  return,  bring  their  skills,  knowledge  and
expertise  to  help  resolve  the  current  scientific  challenges.  The  JRC  strategy  to  increase  its
number of visiting staff was achieved as reflected through the figures below

Visiting  staff

2001

2001

2001

2002

2002

2002

Trainees

Postgraduate grant holders

Post-doctoral grant holders

Visiting scientists

Seconded national experts

Auxiliaries

TOTAL

8.3. 

Equal opportunities

M

23

50

66

16

23

96

274

F

34

35

22

8

6

115

220

Total

57

85

88

24

29

211

494

M

31

53

60

19

18

141

322

F

22

51

29

5

6

156

269

Total

53

104

89

24

24

297

591

Since  2000,  the  JRC  has  taken  a  markedly  proactive  stance  with  regard  to  promoting  equal
opportunities  and,  in  particular,  gender  equality  in  its  working  environment.  A  JRC-wide
network  on  Women  and  Science,  that  includes  representatives  from  all  JRC  Institutes  and
Directorates was set up

During  2002,  the  JRC  launched  a  call  for  applications  for  JRC  training  through  research
grants  and,  among  the  selected  young  researchers,  the  40%  target  for  JRC  female  grant
holders was exceeded. For the first time, parity was nearly reached for the postgraduate grant
holders

Recruitment of women at the JRC in grades A8/A7/A6 in 2002 was increased to 32% and, in
March  2002,  the  JRC  adopted  a  code  of  good  practice  concerning  maternity  leave
replacement

35

8.4. 

Budget (budget and expenses – institutional activities)

The  available  credits  to  the  JRC  are  sub-divided  in  staff  expenses,  means  of  execution
(maintenance  of  buildings  and  equipment,  electricity,  insurance,  consumables,  etc.)  and
operational credits (direct scientific activities).

The  credits  come  from  the  institutional  budget,  made  available  directly  from  the  European
budget to the JRC for Fifth Framework Programme. On the institutional budget, the following
sums were committed:

In million Euro (M€)

Staff  expenses

Means of execution

Operational appropriations

Total (rounded)

2000

160

49

50

259

2001

160

49

40

249

2002

163

49

38

250

In addition to these appropriations, a total amount of 10,2 M€ was made available to finance
an  action  programme  to  reduce  and  dispose  of  nuclear  liabilities  resulting  from  activities  not
directly  linked  to  research  conducted  by  the  Joint  Research  Centre  since  its  establishment.  It
is intended to cover the decommissioning of plants that have been shut down and wastes from
such plants.

Additional sources of appropriations are made available through contributions of Central and
Easter  European  countries  (CEEC)  and  EEE  (associated  countries  of  Central  and  Eastern
Europe, Cyprus, Malta and EFTA) (15,3 M€ in 2002), and competitive activities.

36

8.5. 

Competitive activities

The  table  below  shows  the  values  of  contracts  signed  and  inscribed  into  the  2001  and  2002
accounts.

Contracts  signed

Shared-cost actions

Competitive  activities  outside 
Programme

the  Framework

Third Party work

TOTAL

2001

14.1

9.3

11.4

34.8

2002

2.3

13.8

5.2

21.3

The  2.3  M€  for  shared-cost  actions  reflects  the  conclusion  in  the  year  2002  of  19  newly
signed  contracts.  This  decrease  is  a  consequence  of  the  last  year  of  the  Fifth  Framework
Programme (FP5) and the reduced number of calls for proposals in 2002.

Competitive  activities  outside  the  Framework  Programme  covers  additional  paid  work  for
Commission  services  which  is  not  covered  by  the  JRC's  own  workprogramme.  Fifty-eight
new  contracts  were  signed  in  2002  for  a  total  amount  of  13.8  M€  -  an  increase  of  4.5  M€
compared to 2001.

Third party work up to a value of 5.2 M€ was committed for a range of 68 major clients. This
considerable reduction in income, as compared to 2001, is nevertheless congruent with annual
fluctuations for third party work and reflects a general trend to earn additional income through
providing S&T support to Commission services beyond the JRC’s workprogramme.

37

8.6. 

JRC 2002 Publications by Institute

Institute

EUR

Articles

Conferences

Special

TOTAL

reports

Publications*

General

Management

IRMM

ITU

IE

IPSC

IES

IHCP

IPTS

2

17

1

8

13

63

26

28

TOTAL

158

2

75

67

17

35

112

67

14

389

3

126

86

80

130

283

135

62

905

56

12

17

18

47

38

26

10

63

230

171

123

225

496

254

114

204

1676

*Special  publications:  public  relations  documents,  technical  notes,  bulletins,  newsletters,
manuals, internal management reports, proceedings, theses, electronic documents.

38

9. 

APPENDICES

9.1. 

Appendix 1: Members and participants of the JRC Board of Governors

Prof. Fernando ALDANA

CHAIRMAN

Director
Oficina de Innovación y Tecnología Empresarial
E. Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales
E - 28006 Madrid

MEMBERS

Mr Jacques WAUTREQUIN

Secrétaire Général Honoraire
Services Fédéraux des Affaires Scientifiques,Techniques et Culturelles
B - 1170 Bruxelles

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

Dr Hans Peter JENSEN

Deputy Director
Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition
DK - 2860 Søborg

Mr Maximilian METZGER

Ministerialrat
Bundesministerium für Bildung  und Forschung
D - 53175 Bonn

Prof. Demosthenes ASIMAKOPOULOS

Chairman of the Physics Department
University of Athens
GR - 157 84 Athens

Prof. José Pío BELTRÁN

Vicepresidente de Organización y Relaciones Institucionales
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (C.S.I.C.)
E - 28006 Madrid

Mr Philippe GARDERET

Directeur de l’Innovation et des Technologies Emergentes
AREVA
F - 75433 Paris Cédex 09

Dr Killian HALPIN

Director
Office of Science & Technology - Policy Division
Forfás, Wilton Park House
IRL - Dublin 2

Ing. Paolo VENDITTI

Direttore Generale
Consorzio SICN
I - 00196 Roma

39

DANMARK

DEUTSCHLAND

ELLAS

ESPAÑA

FRANCE

IRELAND

ITALIA

Mr Pierre DECKER

Conseiller de Gouvernement 1ère classe
Ministère de la Culture, de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la
Recherche
L - 2273 Luxembourg

Dr Kees VIJLBRIEF

Directeur
Directie Infrastructuur en Innovatie van het DG Innovatie
Ministerie van Economische Zaken
NL - 2500 EC Den Haag

Ministerialrat Dr. Kurt PERSY

LUXEMBOURG

NEDERLAND

Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur, Gruppe
VI/A
A - 1014 Wien

ÖSTERREICH

Prof. José CARVALHO SOARES

President
Ministério da Ciência e da Tecnologia, Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear
P - 2686-953 Sacavém

PORTUGAL

Prof. Jarl FORSTÉN

Deputy Director General
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
FIN - 02044 VTT

Prof. Kerstin FREDGA

S - 131 50 Saltsjö-Duvnäs

Dr James McQUAID

Director Science and Technology and HSE Board
GB - Sheffield S7 2LL

PARTICIPANTS

Mrs Albena VUTSOVA

Director
Ministry of Education and Science
BG - Sofia 1000

SUOMI/FINLAND

SVERIGE

UNITED KINGDOM

BALGARIJA

40

CESKÁ REPUBLIKA

CYPRUS

EESTI

ISLAND

ISRAEL

LATVIJA

FÜRSTENTUM
LIECHTENSTEIN

LIETUVA

MAGYARORSZÁG

Dr Karel AIM

ICPF Scientific Board Chair
Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals
CZ - 165 02 Praha 6

Mr Panikos POUROS

President of the Board of Directors
Research Promotion Foundation
CY - 1683 Nicosia

Dr Toivo RÄIM

Ministry of Education of Estonia
Department of Research and High Education
EE - Tartu 50088

Dr Axel BJÖRNSSON

Professor in Environmental Sciences
University of Akureyri
IS - 600 Akureyri

Prof. Arnon BENTUR

Samuel Neaman Institute for Advanced Studies in Science and
Technology
IL - 32000 Haifa

Prof. Andrejs SILINŠ

Vice President
Latvian Academy of Sciences
LV - 1050 Riga

Mrs Sabine ALTHOF

Amt für Volkswirtschaft
FL - 9490 Vaduz

Dr Habil. Antanas CENYS

Chairman of Senate (Board)
Semiconductor Physics Institute
LT - 2600 Vilnius

Prof. László KEVICZKY

Member of the Academy, Vice-President
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
H - 1051 Budapest

41

Prof. Roger ELLUL-MICALLEF

Rector
University of Malta
M - Msida MSD 06

Mr Andreas MORTENSEN

Ministry of Trade and Industry
N - 0030 Oslo

Prof. Jerzy LANGER

Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences
PL - 02-668 Warszawa

Dr Constantin GHEORGHIU

Scientific Deputy Director
Institute for Nuclear Research
RO - 0300 Pitesti

Dr Vladimír ŠUCHA

Associated Professor at Faculty of Sciences
Department of Geology of Mineral Deposits, Comenius University
SK - 842 15 Bratislava

Dr Miloš KOMAC

State Undersecretary
Ministry of Education, Science and Sport
SL - 1000 Ljubljana

Mr Lino de FAVERI

Office fédéral de l'éducation et de la science
Programmes internationaux de recherche
CH - 3003 Berne

MALTA

NORGE

POLSKA

ROMÂNIA

SLOVENSKÁ
REPUBLIKA

SLOVENIJA

SUISSE/SCHWEIZ/
SVIZZERA

42

9.2. 

Appendix 2: The JRC Directors

Director-General

Deputy Director-General

Barry Mc Sweeney

Roland Schenkel

Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements Alejandro Herrero-Molina

Institute for Health and Consumer Protection

Kees van Leeuwen

Institute for Environment and Sustainability

Manfred Grasserbauer

Institute  for  the  Protection  and  Security  of  the
Citizen

Jean-Marie Cadiou

Institute for Energy

Kari Törrönen

Institute for Transuranium Elements

Gerard Lander

Institute for Prospective Technological Studies

Acting Director Per Sorup

Science Strategy Directorate

David R. Wilkinson

Resources Directorate

Jean-Pierre Vandersteen

Principal Advisor for Science and Technology

Jean-Marie Martin

43