Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 52013SC0187

**COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the document REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL Specific Monitoring Report on research activities for nuclear safety and security supported by the Euratom Framework Programme 2012 – 2013 /\* SWD/2013/0187 final \*/**

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1........... Rationale........................................................................................................................ 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5........... Conclusions.................................................................................................................. 18

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

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

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

1.           Rationale

The rationale for this report, in accordance
with the Council decision concerning the Euratom Framework Programme for
2012-2013[1],
hereinafter FP7+2, is that the Commission should prepare "in early 2013
a specific monitoring report, to be presented to the Council, dedicated to the
implementation of nuclear safety and security research activities of the
Framework Programme". The specific monitoring report constitutes an
important deliverable that the Council could consider when examining the
proposal for the Euratom part of Horizon 2020.

Nuclear safety and security are key
priorities of the European Union energy policy[2],[3],[4]. The Euratom
nuclear safety and security research activities cover a field wider than the use
of nuclear energy for production of electricity and in particular, include the
use of ionising radiation for applications in research, industry and health.
Continuous research on safety and security is a prerequisite for the
implementation of the Euratom Treaty, which aims at improving the standard of
life of citizens in Member States in the fields where nuclear energy plays a
role. The current Euratom research orientations in the domain of nuclear safety
and security have been defined in the Euratom Framework Programme for nuclear
research and training for the period 2012 to 2013. The Specific Programmes, linked
to the Framework Programme, define in more detail the activities to be
implemented by the direct actions of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the
indirect actions of DG RTD.

Research on nuclear safety applies to the
full range of provisions from the design of nuclear installations to their
operation and final decommissioning including the disposal of radioactive
waste. They are aimed at protecting people and the environment against the
adverse effects of ionising radiation. Radiation safety applies to the safe use
of ionising radiation for medical imaging and therapy as well as the use of
radiation sources for industrial radiography. Research on nuclear security
encompasses the fields of verification, detection and prevention of
proliferation as well as detection of and response to malevolent acts involving
nuclear and radioactive materials. Nuclear security is exclusively addressed
within the direct actions.

2.           Background
(up to end of 2011)

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

The 7th Euratom
Framework Programme[5]
was set out to develop Euratom research activities, under two specific
programmes for direct and indirect actions. The first specific programme,
managed by DG RTD, covers nuclear fission and radiation protection, with the
objective of enhancing in particular the safety performance, resource
efficiency and cost-effectiveness of nuclear fission and other uses of
radiation in industry and medicine. The second specific programme covers the
activities of the JRC in the field of nuclear energy which were divided in
three main categories: (a) nuclear waste management, environmental impact; (b)
nuclear safety; and (c) nuclear security.

2.1         DG
RTD - indirect actions

The general objective
of the Specific Programme implementing the Euratom Seventh Framework Programme
(FP7) for nuclear research and training activities (2007 to 2011) [6] in nuclear fission
and radiation protection reads as follows: "Establishing a sound
scientific and technical basis in order to accelerate practical developments
for the safer management of long-lived radioactive waste, enhancing in
particular the safety performance, resource efficiency and cost-effectiveness
of nuclear energy and ensuring a robust and socially acceptable system of
protection of man and the environment against the effects of ionising radiation".
The main activities are described below.

2.1.1.     Management of radioactive
waste

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

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

2.1.2.     Reactor systems

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

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

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

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

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

2.1.3.     Radiation protection

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

The risks arising from the acute and
instantaneous exposure to radiation are well known from studies carried out
during the follow up of populations having survived Hiroshima and Nagasaki bomb
detonations. However, a wide uncertainty is associated to the risk assessment
of low doses and protracted exposures. Research on radiation protection under
FP7 is subdivided into 3 topics sharing a common baseline understanding on the
risk associated with low doses of ionising radiation: the medical use of
ionising radiation; the protection of the environment; the preparation to
nuclear accidents and the management of post-accident situations. Under FP7,
nineteen (19) projects were supported with around 58 M€.

Low dose research was a topic per se at the beginning
of the 7th Framework Programme and became progressively a
cross-cutting topic of radiation protection.

2.1.4.     Infrastructures

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

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

2.1.5.     Human resources, mobility and training

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

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

2.1.6.     Cross-cutting actions

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

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

2.2         DG
JRC - direct actions

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

To provide customer driven scientific and technical support to the
Community policy-making process in the nuclear field, ensuring support to the
implementation and monitoring of existing policies while flexibly responding to
new policy demands.

The main activities of
the JRC were linked to supporting both Commission and Member States within
Euratom obligations in the field of: nuclear waste management and environmental
impact; safety of nuclear installations and the fuel cycle; and nuclear
security, safeguards and non-proliferation. Cross-cutting activities such as
international cooperation, standardisation, and education and training were
also performed throughout FP7. Within each topic research and development was
pursued, developing scientific/technical data and in specific cases, support to
Euratom policy was delivered. The work programme was aligned so as to maintain
a good balance between scientific outputs, stakeholder-requested deliverables
and ad-hoc policy support. A short description and few examples of the
activities in each domain are described below[7]:

2.2.1      Nuclear
safety

The nuclear safety activities within FP7 were
linked to:

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

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

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

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

2.2.2      Nuclear
security

The nuclear security activities were linked to:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2.2.3      Nuclear waste management
and environmental impact,

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

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

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

In the frame of medical applications a range of
new techniques were developed. This included Targeted Alpha Therapy for cancer
treatment, as well as alternative methods for the
production of radionuclides and chelate molecules, and labelling protocols for
clinical application. The JRC also reported regularly
on environmental radioactivity in the EU Member states as well as performing
continuous monitoring. Inter-laboratory comparisons for instrumentation that monitor
radioactivity in water, soil, and food were performed
to improve the reliability and comparability of measurement results reported
under Articles 35 and 36 of the Euratom Treaty.

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

Laboratory training courses were continuously
delivered during FP7 in radiochemistry, on measurement capability in ionizing
radiation metrology and in mass spectrometry for practitioners from south-east
European and neighbourhood policy countries (JRC Enlargement & Integration
action). Furthermore, to counter the loss of knowledge and expertise in the
nuclear field, the JRC acted as a European reference centre for the
dissemination of information, training and education for young scientists and
provided user access to its nuclear infrastructures. The JRC laboratories
continued to provide transnational access to their facilities for researchers
from the Member States.

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

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

3.1         DG
RTD - indirect actions

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

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

3.1.1      Management of ultimate
radioactive waste

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

3.1.2      Reactor systems

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

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

3.1.3      Radiation protection

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

3.1.4      Infrastructures

Support to large
infrastructures was obviously continued in FP7+2 and the MYRRHA project was
retained as a priority topic in order to bring it to the level of maturity
required to enable the construction work to start. This will be a multi-purpose
infrastructure enabling notably efficient research for nuclear waste management
and materials science. Two projects on transnational access to large
infrastructures were also funded, one for the safe management of actinides (the
most constraining radionuclides in radioactive waste management), and the other
on data management for nuclear safety and nuclear applications.

3.1.5      Human
Resources and training

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

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

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

3.2         DG
JRC - direct actions

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

3.2.1      Nuclear safety

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

3.2.2      Nuclear security

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

Due to its central role in the field, the JRC
has coordinated the development of the reference document[8] for the EU participation to the
Seoul 2012 Nuclear Security Summit.

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

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

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

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

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

3.2.3      Nuclear waste management
and environmental impact

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

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

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

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

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

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

4.1         Collaborative
research

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

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

The most significant
increase in the part of the funding dedicated to safety aspects was actually
achieved in the activity domains of human resources and cross-cutting actions,
thereby targeting to strengthen the European capacity for the development of
the basic necessary knowledge in the field of safety and radiation protection.
This is exemplified by training initiative organised
by the European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN), and by projects
SEMI-NUC dealing with cohorts of people exposed to radiation at the Kazakhstan
weapon test site and EAGLE, a project dealing with training and education in
radiation protection.

This evolution can also be noted (see graphs
below) in the breakdown of the Commission contribution per activity domains.
The most significant increase between FP7 and FP7+2 is being observed in human
resources and training and cross-cutting actions, at the expense of reactor
systems.

4.2         Direct research

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

The JRC resources were kept constant in 2012
but the activities were further focussed within the nuclear safety domain, on
Fukushima related topics such as the EU Stress tests, nuclear accident
modelling and severe accidents management.

During 2013, the JRC is continuing its
nuclear activity along the priorities defined in 2012 which are: nuclear
reactor safety, emergency preparedness and modelling, nuclear fuel and fuel
cycle safety, waste management and decommissioning, nuclear safeguards,
non-proliferation and security as well as knowledge management and training and
education. It will continue to review and further realign its activities
towards the priorities defined in Horizon 2020.

4.3         Latest
developments

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

The Aarhus Convention
establishes a number of rights of the public with regard to the environment. Since September 2009, the European Commission and the National
Association of Local Information Commissions and Committees (ANCCLI) have
opened a dialogue on the practical implementation of the Aarhus Convention in
the nuclear field, in partnership with the European Forum of Nuclear Energy
(ENEF) and the French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development. The European Commission and the ANCCLI also
organized European Roundtables on thematic issues. The first European
Roundtable was held in April 2010 on the practical implementation of the Aarhus
Convention in the field of radioactive waste management. The second Roundtable
addressed issues of access to expertise and capacity building and was held in January
2011. The third Roundtable took place in February 2012 and focused on issues of
preparation and management of nuclear and post-nuclear emergencies. Following
the Symposium on 26-27 February, a new event took place in March 2013 on public
participation in decision making in the nuclear domain, and priorities for future work.

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

5.           Conclusions

The Euratom Framework
Programme (2012-13) pursues its contribution to improving the standard of life of citizens in Member States in the
number of fields for which nuclear energy plays a role. This is achieved
through the improvement of science based knowledge on nuclear safety, on the
protection of people against the adverse effects of ionising radiation and
through the harmonisation in the European Union of scientific references for a
common nuclear safety and security culture[9],[10],[11]. The Euratom
programme supports such a harmonisation by promoting research initiatives in
this field of research through joint programming initiatives, successfully
launched by Technology Platforms (SNETP and IGDTP) and dedicated Associations
(NUGENIA and MELODI. The Commission proposed to continue this successful
approach under the Euratom Research and Training Programme (2014-2018)
complementing Horizon 2020[12].

The JRC has been working during the previous
and present Framework Programmes on a structured work programme focussed on
nuclear safety and security and was also capable to respond immediately to an
unexpected strong demand for nuclear expertise after Fukushima, in particular
by contributing to the EU Stress Tests exercise. The direct actions are now
being reoriented to meet the new post Fukushima demands as well as the key
objectives defined in Horizon2020. JRC also supports the further development of
transparency in the nuclear sector in particular in the context of the possible
application of the Aarhus Convention in nuclear field.

After the Fukushima accident in 2011, the
general objective of the Euratom Framework Programme (FP7+2) for nuclear
research and training activities (2012 to 2013) was refocused on nuclear safety
and security, although support to safety was already very high under FP7.

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

Annexes

Annex I: Projects from Indirect Actions

Annex II: Direct Actions of 2012 and 2013

Annex III: Extract of the European Ethics Group Report

Annex IV: Conclusions of the Symposium

Annex
I: Projects from Indirect Actions

Project acronym and title || Key areas of R&D || Coordinating organisation & no of partners || Start date & duration || Total budget / EU contribution

ALICE – Access to Large Infrastructures in China and Europa || EU-China cooperation on irradiation of structural materials for advanced nuclear systems || SCK-CEN (BE) 5 partners (from 5 countries) || 01/06/2012 48 months || €1.1M / 0.63M

ALISA – Access to Large Infrastructures for Severe Accidents || EU-China Large scale experiments under prototypical conditions addressing severe management in LWR || KIT (DE) 2 partners (from 2 countries) || 01/06/2012 48 months || €1.6M / €1.0M

ALLIANCE – Preparation of ALLegro - Implementing Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycle in Central Europe || To focus on the preparatory phase for developing ALLEGRO demonstrator || MTA-KFKI (HU) 9 partners (from 6 countries) || 01/10/2012 24 months || €1.5M / 0.85M

ANDANTE – Multidisciplinary evaluation of the cancer risk from neutrons relative to photons using stem cells and the induction of second malignant neoplasms following pediatric radiation therapy || Multidisciplinary approach, including physics measurements and modelling, molecular biology, radiobiology and epidemiology || UNIPV (IT) 15 partners (from 12 countries) || 01/01/2012 48 months || €4.2M / €3.0M

ASAMPSA\_E - Advanced Safety Assessment : Extended PSA || To develop good practices in identification of extreme external events using PSA level 1-2 for decision making in the European context. || IRSN (FR) 27 partners (from 20 countries incl. CH, UA) || Under Negotiation 36 months || €3.7M / €3.0M

ASGARD – Advanced fuelS for Generation IV reActors, Reprocessing and Dissolution || Cross-cutting studies innovative fuels to develop compatible techniques for dissolution, reprocessing and manufacturing of new nuclear fuels || CHALMERS (SE) 17 partners (from 10 countries) || 01/01/2012 48 months || €9.6M / €5.8M

BELBAR – Bentonite Erosion, effects on the long term performance of the engineered Barrier and Radionuclide Transport || To increase the knowledge of processes that controls clay colloid stability, generation and ability to transport radio-nuclides. || SKB (SE) 14 partners (from 6 countries + RU) || 01/01/2012 48 months || €5.2M / €2.6M

CAST – Carbon-14 Source Term || To develop understanding of the generation and release of C14 from radioactive waste materials under conditions relevant to waste packaging and disposal to underground geological disposal facilities || NDA (UK) 32 partners (from 15 countries incl. CH and JP) || Under negotiation 54 months || €14.4M / €4.5M

CEREBRAD – Cognitive and Cerebro-vascular Effects Induced by Low Dose Ionising Radiation || Risk estimates of the effects from internal and external exposures and cancer radiotherapy initial and late effects || SCK-CEN (BE) 11 partners (from 10 countries + UA) || 01/10/2011 36 months || €4.7M / €3.0M

CESAM – Code for European Severe Accident Management Fukushima accidents, ASTEC, decision-making tool, spend fuel pond, numerical simulation || Improvement of the European reference code ASTEC towards a usage in severe accident management analysis and to improve the understanding of the Fukushima accidents. || GRS (DE) 18 partners (from 13 EU countries incl CH and IN) || 01/04/2013 48 months || €8.3M / €3.6M CP

CHANDA – Solving CHAllenges in Nuclear DAta || A pan-European infrastructure to support the coordination of nuclear data research programmes, infrastructures and capabilities of EU MSs || CIEMAT (ES) 36 partners (from 18 EU countries incl CH and NO) || Under Negotiation 48 months || €10.2M / 5.4M

CINCH-II - Cooperation in education and training In Nuclear CHemistry || Towards a European Master in Nuclear Chemistry, modular ECVET training courses and Training Passport for the customers from the end users || CTU (CZ) 11 partners (from 7 countries incl. NO) || Under Negotiation 36 months || €1.85M / €1.16M

CO-CHER – Cooperation on Chernobyl health research || To build partnerships on research activities that Chernobyl provides regarding radiation risks || IARC (FR) 8 partners (from 4 EU incl. UA, BY, RU and US) || Under negotiation 30 months || €2.4M / 1.0M

COMET – COordination and iMplementation of a pan-European instrumenT for radioecology || To strengthen the pan-European research initiative on the impact of radiation on man and the environment by facilitating the integration of radio-ecological research. || SCK-CEN (BE) 13 partners (from 10 EU countries incl. UA, JP) || Under negotiation 48 months || €6.0M / 3.4M

CORONA – Establishment of a Regional Centre of Competence for VVER Technology and Nuclear Applications || To provide a structure for training and qualification of personnel serving VVER technology and unification of training schemes according to IAEA standards || KNPP (BG) 11 partners (from 6 EU countries + Russia and UA) || 01/12/2011 36 months || €2.1M / 1.0M

DARK-RISK – Studies on a cohort of Serbian children exposed to x-irradiation to determine the contribution of the non-coding genome to susceptibility at low doses || To prepare the way to use SRTCC biomaterials to quantify contribution of individual differences in sensitivity to risk from low doses of ionizing radiation. || HZDR (DE) 5 partners (from 4 EU) || 01/10/2012 36 months || €2.3M / 1.7M

DOPAS – Full Scale Demonstration of Plugs and Seals || To demonstrate the compliance of reference designs to the design basis, for plugs and seals in geological disposal facilities || POSIVA (FI) 10 partners (9 countries incl. CH) || 01/09/2012 42 months || €16.9M / €8.7M

EAGLE – Enhancing educAtion, traininG and communication processes for informed behaviors and decision-making reLatEd to ionizing radiation risks || To analyse the state of the art and the existing needs in education, training and information, and to coordinate the information and communication about ionising radiation at EU level || SCK-CEN (BE) 10 partners (from 8 EU countries) || Under Negotiation 36 months || €0.87M / €0.77M

ESNII Plus – Preparing ESNII for Horizon 2020 || Preparatory Phase of SET-Plan ESNII to ensure an efficient European coordinated research on Reactor Safety for the next generation of nuclear installations and linked to SNETP SRiA || CEA (FR) 37 partners (from 14 countries + CH) || Under Negotiation 48 months || €10.4M / €6.5M

EURECA! – Cooperation between EU and Canada in Education, Training and Knowledge management on Gen-IV SCWR concept || EU-Canada collaboration, mirrored projects, Education and Training activities related to SCWR and LWR NPP. || DUT (NL) 6 partners (from 6 countries) || 01/08/2012 Negotiation 24 months || €0.69M / €0.5M

EUTEMPE-RX – EUropean Training and Education for Medical Physics Experts in Radiology || To develop a new pilot EFTS scheme for Medical Physics Experts (MPE) in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology to foster MPE radiation protection advocate for patients. || KU LEUVEN (BE) 13 partners (from 9 countries + CH) || Under Negotiation 36 months || €1.65M / €1.65M

FIRST-NUCLIDES – Fast / Instant Release of Safety Relevant Radionuclides from Spent Nuclear Fuel || To improve understanding of fast / instantly released radionuclides from disposed high burn-up UO2 spent fuel as IGTP SRA High Priority || KIT (DE) 10 partners (from 7 countries) || 01/01/2012 36 months || €4.7M / €2.5M

GENTLE – Graduate and Executive Nuclear Training and Lifelong Education || A pan-European effort in the field of education and training (E&T) on Nuclear Energy including an Executive master course (60 ECVET) || TUDelft (NL) 12 partners (from 11 countries + CH) || 01/01/2013 48 months || €2.1M / 1.7M

HPMC – High Performance Monte Carlo reactor core analysis || To develop full core Monte Carlo calculation for time-dependent safety analysis with thermal-hydraulic feedback and burn-up using high performance computing || KIT (DE) 4 partners (from 4 countries) || 01/10/2011 36 months || €0.8M / 0.55M

JASMIN – Joint Advanced Severe Accidents Modelling and Integration for Na-cooled fast neutron reactors || To develop a new European code ASTEC-Na to capitalise SFR severe accident knowledge, with improved physical models to support the development of a Gen-IV European SFR || IRSN (FR) 9 partners (from 5 countries) || 01/12/2011 48 months || €5.6M / €3.0M

MARISA – MyrrhA Research Infrastructure Support Action || To support to the MYRRHA research infrastructure for its development as a pan-European and world-level || SCK-CEN (BE) 16 partners (from 9 EU countries) || Under Negotiation 24 months || €4.6M / €3.3M

MATISSE – Materials’ Innovations for a Safe and Sustainable nuclear in Europe || To support the EERA Joint Nuclear Material Programme R&D and pan-European integration || CEA (FR) 24 partners (from 12 countries + CH) || Under Negotiation 48 months || €11.1M / 4.75M

MAXSIMA – Methodology, Analysis and eXperiments for the "Safety In MYRRHA Assessment" || To contribute to the "safety in MYRRHA" assessment to support the licensing of MYRRHA. || SCK-CEN (BE) 12 partners (from 8 countries) || 01/11/2012 72 months || €10.9M / €5.5M

MULTIMETAL – Structural performance of multi-metal component || Structural performance and ageing of dissimilar metal welds (DMW), modelling towards harmonised European code and standards || VTT (FI) 11 partners (from 9 countries) || 01/02/2012 36 months || €3.1M / €1.7M

NC2I-R – Nuclear Cogeneration Industrial Initiative - Research and Development Coordination || To structure the European public and private R&D capabilities for delivering a nuclear cogeneration European Industrial Initiative || NCBJ (PL) 20 partners (from 11 countries + ZA) || Under Negotiation 24 months || €2.5M / 1.8M

NEWLANCER – New MS Linking for an Advanced Cohesion in Euratom Research || To enhance NMS involvement in future Euratom FP and strenghten full NMS R&D potential and cohesion || INR (RO) 15 partners (from 12 countries) || 01/11/2011 24 months || €0.91M / €0.90M

NUGENIA-Plus – Preparing NUGENIA for HORIZON2020 || Preparatory Phase of GenII-III NUGENIA to ensure an efficient European coordinated research on Reactor Safety for the existing generation of nuclear installations and linked to SNETP SRiA || VTT (FI) 15 partners (from 7 countries) || Under Negotiation 48 months || €10.3M / €6.0M

NURESAFE – NUclear REactor SAFEty simulation platform || To deliver to EU stakeholders multi-physics and fully integrated applications for safety analysis needs and high level of expertise in LWR simulation tools || CEA (FR) 23 partners (from 14 countries incl. CH) || 01/01/2013 36 months || €10M / €5.6M

OPERRA – Open Project for the European Radiation Research Area || Preparatory Phase of MELODI, NERIS and Alliance to ensure a long-term EU research in radiation protection, radio-ecology and nuclear emergency management || IRSN (FR) 14 partners (from 10 countries) || Under negotiation 48 months || €12.0M / €8.0M

PASSAM – Passive and Active Systems on Severe Accident source term Mitigation || To produce simple models and/or correlations to enhance code for current and future NPPs. || IRSN (FR) 8 partners (from 6 countries incl CH) || 01/01/2013 48 months || €5.1M / 3.6M CP

PELGRIMM – PELLets versus Granulates: Irradiation, Manufacturing and Modelling || Gen-IV Minor Actinide (MA) bearing fuel developments and investigation of two fuel forms pellet and spherepac || CEA (FR) 12 partners (from 7 countries) || 01/01/2012 48 months || €7.2M / €3.0M

PETRUS-III – Implementing sustainable E&T programmes in the field of Radioactive Waste Disposals || Further practical implementation of PETRUS EFTS training programme through ECVET and building Competency-based curricula || Univ.Lorraine (FR) 18 partners (from 11 EU countries) || Under Negotiation 36 months || €1.6M / €1.4M

PLATENSO – Building a platform for enhanced societal research related to nuclear energy in Central and Eastern Europe || To enhance capabilities of research institutes in Central and Eastern Europe to take part in EU research, social and societal aspects. || KARITA (SE) 19 partners (from 13 EU countries) || Under Negotiation 36 months || €1.25M / €1.0M

PREPARE – Innovative integrative tools and platforms to be prepared for radiological emergencies and post-accident response in Europe || Update of emergency management and rehabilitation strategies and expertise in Europe following Fukushima accident || KIT (DE) 46 partners (from 19 EU countries + UA, NO, CH) || 01/02/2013 36 months || €6.75M / 4.0M

PROCARDIO – Cardiovascular Risk from Exposure to Low-dose and Low-dose rate Ionizing radiation || To further study inconclusive evidence between cardiovascular disease and exposure of the heart and major vessels to doses below 500mGy || HMGU (DE) 12 partners (from 7 countries + RU) || 01/10/2011 36 months || €5.5M / 3.0M

RENEB – Realising the European Network in Biodosimetry || To create a sustainable network in biological dosimetry and improve EU accident and emergency response capabilities || BFS (DE) 23 partners (from 16 EU countries) || 01/01/2012 48 months || €1.55M / 1.0M

RISK-IR – Risk, Stem Cells and Tissue Kinetics – Ionising Radiation || Using techniques emerging from stem cell biological and tissue kinetics research to address several major areas of uncertainty in low dose cancer risk estimates || HPA (UK) 13 partners (from 7 countries) || 01/11/2012 48 months || €8.9M / €6.7M

SACSESS - Safety of ACtinide Separation proceSSes || To demonstrate fuel cycle safety and potential benefits of actinide partitioning to the global safety of the long-lived waste management P&T || CEA (FR) 27 partners (from 12 countries incl.CH, JP) || 01/03/2013 36 months || €12.5M / €5.5M

SARGEN-IV – Harmonized European methodology for the Safety Assessment of innovative GEN-IV reactors || Safety R&D assessment and methodologies in support to ESNII gathering European TSOs, designers, vendors and Research organisations || IRSN (FR) 22 partners (from 12 countries) || 01/01/2012 24 months || €1.0M / 1.0M

SARRAH – Sustainable Approach for Regional Research Active Integration in Horizon 2020 (\*\*) || To support coordination actions enabling the sustainable formation of competences in NMS || R.A. PENTR (RO) 20 partners (from 11 EU countries) || Under Negotiation 36 months || €1.2M / €1.0M

SEARCH – Safe Exploitation Related Chemistry for HLM reactors and Lead-cooled Advanced Fast Reactor || Investigating safe chemical behaviour of fuel and coolant in lead-cooled reactor and support of Myrrha LFR technology || SCK-CEN (BE) 12 partners (from 8 countries) || 01/11/2011 36 months || €5.4M / 3.0M

SecIGD2 – Secretariat of the Implementing Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste - Technology Platform Phase 2 || To further integrate and coordinate the activities of IGD-TP participants || ANDRA (FR) 4 partners (from 4 countries) || 01/01/2013 36 months || €1.4M / €0.8M

SEMI-NUC – Prospective cohort study of residents near the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site – feasibility || To conduct a feasibility study to set up a unique cohort to address dose-effect relationship for both cancer and non-cancer effects from low to moderate chronic doses (external and internal) || IARC (FR) 6 partners (from 5 countries incl. NO, KZ and JP) || 01/04/2013 48 months || €1.7M / €0.95M

SILER – Seismic-Initiated events risk mitigation in Lead-cooled Reactors || To study risks associated to seismic initiated events in Gen-IV Heavy Liquid Metal reactors and develop adequate measures || ENEA (IT) 18 partners (from 8 countries) || 01/10/2011 36 months || €5.3M / €3.0M

SITEX – Sustainable network of Independent Technical Expertise for radioactive waste disposal || To identify efficient means to establish a sustainable network regulatory bodies, TSOs and waste management organisations || IRSN (FR) 12 partners (from 9 countries + CA) || 01/01/2012 24 months || €0.98M / €0.98M

TALISMAN - Transnational Access to Large Infrastructure for a Safe Management of ActiNide || Transnational access to infrastructures in actinide sciences by European scientists || CEA (FR) 12 partners (from 9 countries incl. CH) || 01/01/2013 36 months || €6.2M / €4.0M

WINSR – Widening Involvement of New Member States in H2020 in Nuclear Safety Research (\*\*) WINSR to be merged with SARRAH || To enhance involvement of NMS and their organisations in “Fission, Safety and Radiation Protection” Programme. || LEI (LT) 10 partners (from 8 EU countries including HR) || Under Negotiation 24 months || €0.9M / €0.5M

NUSHARE – Project for Sharing and growing Nuclear Safety Competence || A Euratom Training initiative drawing lessons from Fukushima from a 'Research and Innovation' prospect and in two areas: (a) further strengthening of the nuclear safety culture throughout Europe, with particular emphasis on the human element; (b) public understanding of nuclear fission technologies and radiation protection issues in general. || ENEN (FR) 1 partner (from 1 EU country) || 01/01/2013 48 months || €1.1M / €1.0M

SAFEST - Severe Accident Facilities for European Safety Targets || To support joint experimental research towards severe accident R&D programmes that are being set up after Fukushima and the subsequent European stress tests addressing both national and European objectives || KIT (DE) 8 partners (from 6 EU countries) || Reserve List 48 months || €5.0M / €4.0M

ENEN-RU-II - Strengthening of Cooperation and Exchange for Nuclear Education and Training between the European Union and the Russian Federation || Two parallel projects in the EU and the Russian Federation, basis for a mutual recognition of E&T programmes, exchange of researchers at master and postgraduate levels and young professionals from nuclear research institutes and industry. || ENEN (FR) 11 partners (from 8 EU countries) || Reserve List 36 months || €0.79M / €0.70M

ENETRAP-III - European Network for Education and Training in Radiation Protection || To further develop European reference training schemes and specialized modules for Radiation Protection Experts in medical, waste management and NPP fields. Implementation of ECVET and fostering assistance from regulators that will play a crucial role towards the endorsement of the proposed courses and learning objectives. || SCK-CEN (BE) 14 partners (from 11 EU countries) || Reserve List 48 months || €1.80M / €1.20M

Annex II : Direct Actions of 2012 and 2013

Acronym || Title || JRC Institute

NWD2 || Nuclear Waste Disposal & Decommissioning || Institute for Transuranium Elements

ANFC || Alternative Nuclear Fuel Cycles || Institute for Transuranium Elements

FPANM || Fundamental Properties of Actinides and Nuclear Materials || Institute for Transuranium Elements

ND Stds || Basic research in nuclear physics and nuclear data standards || Institiute for Reference Materials and Measurements

ND-MINWASTE || Nuclear data for radioactive waste management and safety of new reactor developments || Institiute for Reference Materials and Measurements

AIT || Alpha-Immunotherapy || Institute for Transuranium Elements

REM || Radioactivity Environmental Monitoring || Institute for Transuranium Elements

RADMET || Radionuclide metrology for primary standardisation and policy support || Institiute for Reference Materials and Measurements

NUSAC || Centralised EU Nuclear Safety Clearinghouse for Operational Experience Feedback || Institute for Enegy and Transport

NURAM || Nuclear Reactor Accident Analysis and Modelling || Institute for Enegy and Transport

SNF || Safety of Nuclear Fuels and Fuel cycles || Institute for Transuranium Elements

CAPTURE || Knowledge Management, Training and Education in Reactor design and Operation || Institute for Enegy and Transport

MATTINO || MATerials performance assessmenT for safety and Innovative Nuclear reactOrs || Institute for Enegy and Transport

NuTraSeal || Nuclear Traceability and Sealing Systems || Institute for Transuranium Elements

METRO || Providing metrological tools to support nuclear safeguards activities || Institiute for Reference Materials and Measurements

FACIL || Forensics Analysis and Combating Illicit Trafficking || Institute for Transuranium Elements

IANUS || Information Analysis for Nuclear Security || Institute for Transuranium Elements

NUVER || Nuclear Facilities Verification || Institute for Transuranium Elements

NUMAMET || Nuclear Materials Measurements Techniques || Institute for Transuranium Elements

NTAS || Nuclear and Trace Analysis for Safeguards || Institute for Transuranium Elements

NUSIM || Nuclear Fuel Cycle Simulations || Institute for Transuranium Elements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[1]               Article 6(1) of the Council Decision 2012/93/Euratom
of 19 December 2011.

[2]               Directive 2009/71/EURATOM establishing a Community
framework for the nuclear safety of nuclear installations

[3]               Directive 2011/70/EURATOM establishing
a Community framework for the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and
radioactive waste, adopted by the Council of the European Union on 19 July 2011

[4]               Basic Safety Standards Directive sets
out standards for radiation protection in the Member States, Council Directive
96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 laying down basic safety standards for the
protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers
arising from ionizing radiation

[5]               Council decision of 18 December 2006
(2006/970/EURATOM) concerning the Seventh Framework Programme of the European
Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities
(2007 to 2011).

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

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

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

[9]               Directive 2009/71/EURATOM
establishing a Community framework for the nuclear safety of nuclear
installations

[10]             Directive 2011/70/EURATOM establishing
a Community framework for the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and
radioactive waste, adopted by the Council of the European Union on 19 July 2011

[11]             Basic Safety Standards Directive sets
out standards for radiation protection in the Member States, Council Directive
96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 laying down basic safety standards for the
protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers
arising from ionizing radiation

[12]             COM (2011)812

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