Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

24. 9. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 250/7

## II

_(Preparatory Acts)_

# COMMISSION

Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a research and technological development programme
for the European Atomic Energy Community in the field of the decommissioning of nuclear

installations

(1989 to 1993)

_COM(88) 415 final_

_(Submitted by the Commission on 16 August 1988)_

(88/C 250/07)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 7
thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
submitted after consulting the Scientific and Technical
Committee,

Having regard to the opinion of the European
Parliament,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and
Social Committee,

Whereas certain parts of nuclear installations inevitably
become radio-active during operation; whereas it is
therefore essential to find effective solutions which are

capable of ensuring the safety and protection of both
mankind and the environment against the potential
hazards involved in the decommissioning of these installations;

Whereas the research programme concerning the decommissioning of nuclear installations, adopted by Decision
84/60/Euratom ( [l] ), has yielded positive results and
opened up encouraging prospects;

Whereas the scientific and technical basis necessary to
strengthen the safety and protection aspects of decommissioning should be further reinforced, namely by
demonstration of relevant techniques;

Whereas the Council, by adopting the framework
programme of Community research and technological
development (1987 to 1991) ( [2] ), acknowledges the need
for a further action on the decommissioning of nuclear
installations,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

_Article 1_

A research and technological development programme
for the Eurpean Atomic Energy Community in the field
of the decommissioning of nuclear installations, as
defined in the Annex, is hereby adopted for a period of
five years from 1 January 1989.

_Article 2_

The amount deemed necessary for the execution of the
programme is 31,5 million ECU including expenditure
on a staff of five.

_Article 3_

The Commission shall be responsible for the execution
of the programme. It shall be assisted by the
Management and Coordination Advisory Committee
CGC6 'Nuclear fission energy — Fuel cycle/processing
and storage of waste', set up by Council Decision
84/338/Euratom, ECSC, EEC ( [3] )

The contracts entered into by the Commission shall
regulate the rights and obligations of each party, in
particular the methods of disseminating, protecting and
exploiting the research results.

_Article 4_

In the third year of the programme, the Commission
shall undertake a review of the programme and it shall
report to the Council and to the European Parliament on
the results thereof, together, if necessary, with a proposal
for modification or prolongation.

An evaluation of the results achieved will be conducted

by the Commission, which shall report thereon to the
Council and the Eurpean Parliament.

O OJ No L 36, 8. 2. 1984, p. 23.
C) OJ No L 302, 24. 10. 1987, p. 1. ( [3] ) OJ No L 177, 4. 7. 1984, p. 25.

No C 250/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 24. 9. 88

The abovementioned reports shall be established having agreements or contracts with a third State, an internaregard to the objectives and criteria set out in the Annex tional organisation or a national of a third State, with a
to this Decision and in conformity with the provisions of view to associating them wholly or partly with this
Article 2 (2) of the framework programme. programme.

_Article 5_

_Article 6_
The Commission is authorised to negotiate, in
accordance with Article 101 (2) of the EAEC Treaty, This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

_ANNEX_

RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN THE FIELD OF THE

DECOMMISSIONING OF NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS

The aim of the programme is the joint development of a system of management of nuclear installations
finally shut down and of the radioactive wastes produced in their dismantling which, at its various stages,
will provide mankind and the environment with the best protection possible. The programme will involve
demonstration of relevant technologies.

The programme seeks to promote:

A. Research and development projects concerning the following areas:

Area No 1: long-term integrity of buildings and systems;

Area No 2: decontamination for decommissioning purposes;

Area No 3: dismantling techniques;

Area No 4: treatment of specific waste materials: steel, concrete and graphite;

Area No 5: qualification and adaptation of remote-controlled semi-autonomous manipulator systems;

Area No 6: estimation of the quantities of radioactive wastes arising from the decommissioning of
nuclear installations in the Community.

B. Identification of guiding principles relating to:

— the design and operation of nuclear installations with a view to simplifying their subsequent decommissioning,

— the decommissioning operations with a view to making occupational radiation exposures as low as
reasonably achievable,

— the technical elements of a Community policy in this field.

C. Testing of hew techniques in practice, within the framework of large-scale decommissioning operations
undertaken in Member States. The tests will be focused mainly on a few selected pilot dismantling
projects, but include complementary tests performed in other nuclear installations. The secondment of
research staff from other member countries, to the pilot dismantling projects, will be promoted.

The implementation of the programme shall be done mainly through cost-shared research and development
contracts, but also through concerted actions, studies and coordination activities.

Besides this, secondment of scientific staff from other Member countries to the pilot projects, as well as
training and mobility grants, shall be promoted.

The Community's participation in shared-cost action research contracts will not exceed 50 % of the total

costs.

24. 9. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 250/9

The programme is to be evaluated by independent experts in accordance with the Community plan of
action relating to the evaluation of Community research and development activities ('). The following
criteria are to be considered in the evaluation:

— the extent to which research proposals were selected against relevant criteria,

— the extent to which substantial development of knowledge, techniques and equipment has resulted from
the work supported,

— the potential relevance of the results with regard to industrial decommissioning operations,

— the potential relevance of the results with regard to safety and protection aspects of decommissioning
and in particular to occupational radiation exposure of decommissioning workers,

— the extent to which information exchange and cooperation across the borders of Member States have
been promoted.

0) COM(86) 660 final