European Parliament legislative resolution of 16 January 2019 on the proposal for a Council regulation establishing the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for the period 2021-2025 complementing Horizon Europe — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (COM(2018)0437 — C8-0380/2018 — 2018/0226(NLE))
Date: 2019-01-16
Institutions: Committee on Budgets, Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, European Parliament
Subjects: EAEC, EU programme, EU research policy, Framework Programme for Research and Development, innovation, nuclear research, nuclear safety, nuclear technology, research and development, vocational training




C_2020411EN.01055201.xml










27.11.2020   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 411/552






P8_TA(2019)0028
Euratom Research and Training programme 2021- 2025 *
European Parliament legislative resolution of 16 January 2019 on the proposal for a Council regulation establishing the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for the period 2021-2025 complementing Horizon Europe — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (COM(2018)0437 — C8-0380/2018 — 2018/0226(NLE))
(Consultation)
(2020/C 411/47)

The European Parliament,






—


having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2018)0437),










—


having regard to Article 7 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C8-0380/2018),










—


having regard to Rule 78c of its Rules of Procedure,










—


having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (A8-0406/2018),












1.


Approves the Commission proposal as amended;












2.


Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, in accordance with Article 293(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 106a of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community;












3.


Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;












4.


Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to substantially amend the Commission proposal;












5.


Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and the Commission.





Amendment 1


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 1 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(1 a)






The European Parliament should be consulted at all relevant steps during the implementation and evaluation of the Programme. The Council asked the European Parliament for its opinion on the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for the period 2021-2025. However, since the ordinary legislative procedure does not apply under the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, the European Parliament is not considered to be on an equal footing with the Council when adopting legislation relating to atomic energy. Given the European Parliament’s role as a co-legislator regarding budgetary matters and in order to ensure the coherent design and implementation of the Union’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, the Euratom Research and Training Programme should also be adopted by means of the ordinary legislative procedure.











Amendment 2


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 2








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(2)


Nuclear research can contribute to social well-being, economic prosperity 
and environmental sustainability
 by improving nuclear safety, security and radiation protection. Radiation protection research has led to improvements in medical technologies from which many citizens benefit and that research can now lead to improvements in other sectors such as industry, agriculture, environment and security. Equally important is the 
potential
 contribution of nuclear research to the long-term decarbonisation of the energy system in a safe, efficient and secure way.












(2)


Nuclear research can contribute to social well-being 
and
 economic prosperity by improving nuclear safety, security and radiation protection. 
Nuclear research makes an important contribution to environmental sustainability and the fight to combat climate change by reducing the Union’s dependence on imported energy, while
 radiation protection research has led to improvements in medical technologies from which many citizens benefit and that research can now lead to improvements in other sectors such as industry, agriculture, environment and security. Equally important is the contribution of nuclear research to the long-term decarbonisation of the energy system in a safe, efficient and secure way.









Amendment 3


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 4








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(4)


The Commission's Report on the interim evaluation of the 2014-18 Euratom Research and Training Programme (COM(2017)0697) provides a set of guiding principles for the Programme. These include: to continue supporting nuclear research focused on nuclear safety, safeguards, security, waste management, radiation protection and development of fusion; to further improve, together with beneficiaries, the organisation and management of the European Joint Programmes in the nuclear field; to continue and reinforce the Euratom education and training actions for developing relevant competencies which underpin all aspects of nuclear safety, security and radiation protection; to further exploit synergies between Euratom programme and other thematic areas of the Union Framework Programme; and to further exploit synergies between direct and indirect actions of the Euratom programme.












(4)


The Commission's Report on the interim evaluation of the 2014-18 Euratom Research and Training Programme (COM(2017)0697) provides a set of guiding principles for the Programme. These include: to continue supporting nuclear research focused on nuclear safety, 
performance,
 safeguards, security, 
radioactive
 waste management, radiation protection and development of fusion; to further improve, together with beneficiaries, the organisation and management of the European Joint Programmes in the nuclear field; to continue and reinforce the Euratom education and training actions for developing relevant competencies which underpin all aspects of nuclear safety, security and radiation protection 
in order to ensure a high level of skills, in particular in the new generation of engineers
; to further exploit synergies between Euratom programme and other thematic areas of the Union Framework Programme; and to further exploit synergies between direct and indirect actions of the Euratom programme
, helping to ensure consistency and effectiveness throughout the Euratom programme
.









Amendment 4


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 4 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(4a)






Euratom waste management projects contribute to a better understanding of radioactive waste management issues in the Union, such as the safety of future geological disposal facilities, radioactive waste conditioning and the long-term behaviour of spent fuel in a landfill.











Amendment 5


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 5








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(5)


The conception and design of the Programme is set against the need to establish a critical mass of supported activities. This is achieved by establishing a limited number of specific objectives focussed on safe use of nuclear fission for power and non-power applications, maintaining and developing necessary expertise, fostering fusion energy and supporting policy of the Union on nuclear safety, safeguards and security












(5)


The conception and design of the Programme is set against the need to establish a critical mass of supported activities. This is achieved by establishing a limited number of specific objectives focussed on safe use of nuclear fission for power and non-power applications, maintaining and developing necessary expertise, fostering fusion energy and supporting policy of the Union on nuclear safety, safeguards and security
, including the development of knowledge on safe, effective and cost-efficient decommissioning of installations which reach the end of their lifespan, an area in which provisions and investment is lagging behind.











Amendment 6


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 5 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(5a)






The Programme is a crucial part of Union’s efforts to maintain and enhance scientific and industrial leadership in the field of energy technologies. In order to support the safe operation of existing fission power and facilitate the decarbonisation of the power system, fission research should continue to form an integral part of the Euratom programme.











Amendment 7


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 5 b (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(5b)






The safe and secure use of nuclear energy and non-power applications of ionizing radiation, including nuclear safety and decommissioning, should be supported by means of structural cross-border inspections and the sharing of knowledge and best practices related to the safety of reactor systems and fuel cycles currently in use, especially in the case of nuclear facilities located in the vicinity of one or more borders between Member States.











Amendment 31


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 5 c (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(5c)






Severe nuclear accidents could endanger human health. Therefore, nuclear safety and, where appropriate, security aspects dealt with by the Joint Research Centre (the ‘JRC’) should be given the greatest possible attention in the Programme.











Amendment 8


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 7








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(7)


By supporting nuclear research, the Programme should contribute to achieving the objectives of the Horizon Europe — Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (‘Horizon Europe’) established by Regulation (EU) No […] of the European Parliament and of the Council (20) and should facilitate implementation of the Europe 2030 strategy and strengthening of the European Research Area.












(7)


By supporting nuclear research, the Programme should contribute to achieving the objectives of the Horizon Europe — Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (‘Horizon Europe’) established by Regulation (EU) No […] of the European Parliament and of the Council (20)

, in particular by promoting excellence and open science,
 and should facilitate implementation of the Europe 2030 strategy and strengthening of the European Research Area.









Amendment 9


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 8








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(8)


The Programme should seek synergies with Horizon Europe and other Union programmes, from their design and strategic planning, to project selection, management, communication, dissemination and exploitation of results, to monitoring, auditing and governance. With a view to avoiding overlaps and duplication and increasing the leverage of EU funding, transfers from other Union programmes to Horizon Europe activities can take place. In such cases they will follow Horizon Europe rules.












(8)


The Programme should seek synergies 
and a closer alignment
 with Horizon Europe and other Union programmes, from their design and strategic planning, to project selection, management, communication, dissemination and exploitation of results, to monitoring, auditing and governance
. It is vital that the key principles of excellence and open science are maintained across programmes
. With a view to avoiding overlaps and duplication and increasing the leverage of EU funding, transfers from other Union programmes to Horizon Europe activities can take place. In such cases they will follow Horizon Europe rules.









Amendment 33


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 12 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(12a)






The activities developed under the Programme should aim to promote equality between women and men in research and innovation, by addressing in particular the underlying causes of gender imbalance, exploiting the full potential of both female and male researchers, and integrating the gender dimension into the content of projects in order to improve the quality of research and stimulate innovation. The activities should also aim at the implementation of the principles relating to equality between women and men laid down in Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty on European Union and Article 8 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).











Amendment 10


Proposal for a regulation


Recital 17 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 










(17a)






The JRC provides support for standardisation, open access by Union scientists to individual nuclear facilities and training activities in areas such as nuclear guarantees, forensics or decommissioning.











Amendment 11


Proposal for a regulation


Article 3 — paragraph 1 — point b








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(b)


to 
potentially
 contribute to the long-term decarbonisation of the energy system in a safe, efficient and secure way.












(b)


to contribute to the long-term decarbonisation of the energy system in a safe, efficient and secure way.









Amendment 12


Proposal for a regulation


Article 3 — paragraph 2 — point a








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(a)


improve the safe 
and
 secure use of nuclear energy and non-power applications of ionizing radiation, including nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radiation protection, safe spent fuel and radioactive waste management and decommissioning;












(a)


improve the safe, secure 
and efficient
 use of nuclear energy and non-power applications of ionizing radiation, including nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radiation protection, safe spent fuel and radioactive waste management and decommissioning;









Amendment 13


Proposal for a regulation


Article 3 — paragraph 2 — point d








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(d)


support the policy of the Community on nuclear safety, safeguards and security.












(d)


support the policy of the Community on nuclear safety, safeguards and security
, including the development of knowledge on safe, effective and cost-efficient decommissioning of installations which reach the end of their lifespan
.









Amendment 14


Proposal for a regulation


Article 4 — paragraph 1








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment






1.   The financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme shall be EUR 1 675 000 000  in current prices.




1.   The financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme shall be EUR 
1 516 000 000  in 2018 prices (
EUR 1 675 000 000  in current prices).






Amendment 15


Proposal for a regulation


Article 4 — paragraph 2 — subparagraph 1 — introductory part








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





The 
indicative
 distribution of the amount referred to in paragraph 1 shall be:


The distribution of the amount referred to in paragraph 1 shall be:





Amendment 16


Proposal for a regulation


Article 4 — paragraph 2 — subparagraph 1 — point a








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(a)




EUR 724 563 000 
 for fusion research and development;












(a)




43 %
 for fusion research and development;









Amendment 17


Proposal for a regulation


Article 4 — paragraph 2 — subparagraph 1 — point b








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(b)




EUR 330 930 000 
 for nuclear fission, safety and radiation protection;












(b)




25 %
 for nuclear fission, safety and radiation protection;









Amendment 18


Proposal for a regulation


Article 4 — paragraph 2 — subparagraph 1 — point c








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(c)




EUR 619 507 000 
 for direct actions undertaken by the Joint Research Centre.












(c)




32 %
 for direct actions undertaken by the Joint Research Centre.









Amendment 19


Proposal for a regulation


Article 4 — paragraph 2 — subparagraph 2








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





The Commission may 
not
 deviate, within the annual budgetary procedure, from the 
amount
 referred to in paragraph 2 
(c)
 of this Article.


The Commission may deviate, within the annual budgetary procedure, from the 
amounts
 referred to in 
the first subparagraph of
 paragraph 2 of this Article 
by a maximum of 10 %
.





Amendment 20


Proposal for a regulation


Article 5 — paragraph 1 — subparagraph 1 — point c — indent 3 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 








—




respect for the principles of the rule of law;











Amendment 34


Proposal for a regulation


Article 8 a (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 





Article 8 a




Gender equality




The Programme shall ensure the effective promotion of gender equality and the gender dimension in research and innovation content.








Amendment 35


Proposal for a regulation


Article 8 b (new)








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





 





Article 8 b




Ethical principles





1.
   
All the research and innovation activities carried out under the Programme shall comply with ethical principles and relevant national, Union and international law, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Supplementary Protocols thereto.




Particular attention shall be paid to the principle of proportionality, the right to privacy, the right to the protection of personal data, the right to the physical and mental integrity of a person, the right to non-discrimination and the need to ensure a high level of protection of human health.






2.
   
Research and innovation activities carried out under the Programme shall have an exclusive focus on civil applications.









Amendment 21


Proposal for a regulation


Article 13 — paragraph 1








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment






(1)   The recipients of the Programme funding shall acknowledge the origin and ensure the visibility 
of the Community funding
 (in particular when promoting the actions and their results) by providing coherent, effective and proportionate targeted information to multiple audiences, including the media and the public.




(1)   The recipients of the Programme funding shall acknowledge the origin and 
indicate the origins of Union funding so as to
 ensure the visibility 
thereof
 (in particular when promoting the actions and their results) by providing coherent, effective and proportionate targeted information to multiple audiences, including the media and the public.






Amendment 22


Proposal for a regulation


Article 13 — paragraph 2








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment






(2)   The Commission shall implement activities on information and communication relating to the Programme, and its actions, and results. Financial resources allocated to the Programme shall also contribute to the corporate communication of the political priorities of the Community, as far as they are related to the objectives referred to in Article 3.




(2)   The Commission shall implement activities on information and communication relating to the Programme, and its actions, and results 
intended for both specialist recipients and the public.
 Financial resources allocated to the Programme shall also contribute to the corporate communication of the political priorities of the Community, as far as they are related to the objectives referred to in Article 3.






Amendment 23


Proposal for a regulation


Article 14 — paragraph 1








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment






1.   Evaluations shall be carried out 
in a timely manner
 to feed into the decision-making process on the programme, its successor and other initiatives relevant to research and innovation.




1.   Evaluations shall be carried out 
every two years
 to feed into the decision-making process on the programme, its successor and other initiatives relevant to research and innovation.






Amendment 24


Proposal for a regulation


Article 14 — paragraph 2








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment






2.   The 
interim
 evaluation of the Programme shall be carried out once there is sufficient information available about the implementation of the Programme, but no later than 
three
 years after the start of the programme implementation. It shall include an assessment of the long-term impact of previous Euratom Programmes and shall form the basis to adjust programme implementation, as appropriate.




2.   The 
first
 evaluation of the Programme shall be carried out once there is sufficient information available about the implementation of the Programme, but no later than 
two
 years after the start of the programme implementation. It shall include an assessment of the long-term impact of previous Euratom Programmes and shall form the basis to adjust programme 
extensions and
 implementation, as appropriate.






Amendment 25


Proposal for a regulation


Article 14 — paragraph 3








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment






3.   At the end of the implementation of the Programme, but no later than 
four
 years after the end of the period specified in Article 1, a final evaluation of the Programme shall be carried out by the Commission. It shall include an assessment of the long-term impact of previous Programmes.




3.   At the end of the implementation of the Programme, but no later than 
two
 years after the end of the period specified in Article 1, a final evaluation of the Programme shall be carried out by the Commission. It shall include an assessment of the long-term impact of previous Programmes.






Amendment 26


Proposal for a regulation


Annex I — paragraph 2








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





In order to achieve the specific objectives, the Programme will support cross-cutting activities that ensure synergy of research efforts in solving common challenges. Appropriate links and interfaces, such as joint calls, will be ensured with the Horizon Europe. Related research and innovation activities may also benefit from financial support provided by the Funds under Regulation [Common Provisions Regulation] 
as far as
 in line with 
these Funds'
 objectives and regulations.


In order to achieve the specific objectives, the Programme will support cross-cutting activities that ensure synergy of research efforts in solving common challenges. Appropriate links and interfaces, such as joint calls, will be ensured with the Horizon Europe. Related research and innovation activities may also benefit from financial support provided by the Funds under Regulation [Common Provisions Regulation] 
or other Union programmes and financial instruments, insofar as they are
 in line with 
the
 objectives and regulations 
of those Funds, programmes and instruments
.





Amendment 27


Proposal for a regulation


Annex I — paragraph 4








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





The priorities of the work programmes are to be established by the Commission on the basis of its policy priorities, inputs from national public authorities and nuclear research stakeholders grouped in bodies or frameworks such as European technology platforms, associations, initiatives and technical forums for nuclear systems and safety, management of radioactive waste, spent nuclear fuel and radiation protection/low-dose risk, nuclear safeguards and security, fusion research, or any relevant organisation or forum of 
nuclear
 stakeholders.


The priorities of the work programmes are to be established by the Commission on the basis of its policy priorities, inputs from national public authorities and nuclear research stakeholders grouped in bodies or frameworks such as European technology platforms, associations, initiatives and technical forums for 
current and future
 nuclear systems and safety, management of radioactive waste, spent nuclear fuel and radiation protection/low-dose risk, nuclear safeguards and security, fusion research, or any relevant organisation or forum of 
relevant
 stakeholders.





Amendment 28


Proposal for a regulation


Annex I — paragraph 5 — point a — point 1








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(1)


Nuclear safety: safety of reactor systems and fuel cycles, in use in the Community or, to the extent necessary in order to maintain broad nuclear safety expertise in the Community, those reactor types and fuel cycles, which may be used in the future, focusing exclusively on safety aspects, including all aspects of the fuel cycle such as partitioning and transmutation.












(1)


Nuclear safety: safety of reactor systems and fuel cycles, in use in the Community or, to the extent necessary in order to maintain 
and develop
 broad nuclear safety expertise in the Community, those reactor types and fuel cycles, which may be used in the future, focusing exclusively on safety aspects, including all aspects of the fuel cycle such as partitioning and transmutation; 
Support for sharing information and best practices related to the safety of reactor systems and fuel cycles currently in use, especially in the case of nuclear facilities located in the vicinity of one or more borders between Member States.











Amendment 29


Proposal for a regulation


Annex I — paragraph 5 — point a — point 3








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment











(3)


Decommissioning: research for the development and evaluation of technologies for decommissioning and environmental remediation of nuclear facilities; support for sharing best practices and knowledge on decommissioning.












(3)


Decommissioning: research for the development and evaluation of technologies for decommissioning and environmental remediation of nuclear facilities; support for sharing best practices and knowledge on decommissioning
, including knowledge sharing in the case of nuclear facilities located in the vicinity of one or more borders between Member States and by means of pooling resources and personnel in centres of excellence
.









Amendment 30


Proposal for a regulation


Annex II — subheading 4 — table








Text proposed by the Commission




Amendment





Innovation impact pathway indicators


Innovation impact pathway indicators




EU progress towards 3 % GDP due to Euratom programme


EU progress towards 
research and development (R&D) spending target of
 3 % GDP due to 
the
 Euratom programme






(20)  Regulation (EU) No […] of the European Parliament and of the Council of […] establishing EU FP9 — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 (OJ […]).

(20)  Regulation (EU) No […] of the European Parliament and of the Council of […] establishing EU FP9 — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 (OJ […]).