Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 92001E1461

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-1461/01 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Funding earmarked for nuclear energy research in the Sixth framework programme for research.** 
  
*Official Journal 364 E , 20/12/2001 P. 0119 - 0120*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1461/01

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 May 2001)

Subject: Funding earmarked for nuclear energy research in the Sixth framework programme for research

The budget of the Sixth framework programme for research is due to grow by 17 % compared with the Fifth framework programme for research. However, it is intended that Euratom's share of the Sixth framework programme will be reduced by 2,5 % compared with the Fifth framework programme.

Bearing in mind the growing importance of nuclear energy for an overall solution to the energy question in Europe, what is the Commission's reason for such a marked reduction in the resources for research into nuclear energy?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2001)

The Commission's proposals for the next framework programmes (FP) for research(1) have been substantially restructured in comparison with the previous ones in order to make a reality of the European research area.

One of the main principles of the proposals is concentration on a selected number of priority research areas in which Community action can add the greatest possible value.

As regards research in the fields of nuclear waste treatment and storage, radiation protection and innovative concepts for new and safer processes of exploitation of nuclear energy, the level of Community funding remains as a whole roughly unchanged. The focus on nuclear waste should allow to assemble research efforts in the Community into a critical mass and to provide a common basis of knowledge available to waste management organisations.

The budget for fusion research was reduced from 788 million in the Fifth framework programme on Research and Technological Development of the Community to 700 million. The Commission proposal confirms the reactor orientation of the fusion energy research and reinforces the co-ordination at European level in the framework of the European Research Area. It gives a high priority to the realisation of the Next Step in the context of the international co-operation on the International Thermonuclear Energy Reactor (ITER) project and to the common use of the Joint European Torus (JET) Facilities. It emphasises Community support to multilateral projects with european added value and anticipates that Member States will bear a larger fraction of the programmes carried out at the national level by the associations.

The approach taken in the new Euratom framework programme proposal is in line with the Commission's Green Paper Towards a European strategy for the security of energy supply(2).

(1) COM(2001) 94 final.

(2) COM(2000) 769 final.

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