CELEX: 51989PC0226
Language: en
Date: 1989-05-12
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ADOPTING A SPECIFIC RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY IN THE FIELD OF MANAGEMENT AND STORAGE OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE ( 1990-94 )

10. 6. 89                             Official Journal of the European Communities                             No C 144/11
                                                             II
                                                      (Preparatory Acts)
                                                COMMISSION
             Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a specific research and technical development
             programme for the European Atomic Energy Community in the field of management and
                                                storage of radioactive waste
                                                       (1990 to 1994)
                                                     COM(89) 226 final
                                      (Submitted by the Commission on 18 May 1989)
                                                       (89/C 144/13)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES                           Whereas the Council, by adopting the framework
                                                                  programme of Community research and technological
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European             development (1987 to 1991) (3), acknowledges the
Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 7              interest of an activity 'Fission: nuclear safety' which
thereof,                                                          includes    an    R & TD        area  'radioactive waste
                                                                  management';
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
presented after consulting the Scientific and Technical           Whereas the programme on the management and storage
Committee,                                                        of radioactive waste adopted by Decision 85/199
                                                                  Euratom (4) has yielded positive results and opened up
                                                                  encouraging prospects which it is advisable to complete
Having regard      to   the   opinion   of  the   European        and confirm by the implementation of research, devel-
Parliament,                                                       opment and demonstration actions representing the real
                                                                  waste management and storage conditions which can be
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and                  expected in the future;
Social Committee,
                                                                  HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Whereas the use of nuclear energy inevitably involves the
production of radioactive waste; whereas it is therefore
essential to implement effective solutions to guarantee                                     Article 1
the safety and protection of man and the environment              A research and technological development programme
against the potential risks associated with the                   for the European Atomic Energy Community in the field
management of such waste;                                         of management and storage of radioactive waste as
                                                                  defined in the Annex, is hereby adopted for a period of
Whereas the fourth European Communities' action                   five years, from 1 January 1990.
programme on the environment, which was the subject
of the Resolution of 19 October 1987 (') of the Council
                                                                                            Article 2
and the Representatives of the Governments of the
Member States meeting in the Council, underlines the              The funds estimated necessary for the execution of the
need to pursue Community action on the handling and               programme amount to ECU 79,6 million ( = MECU)
storage of radioactive waste;                                     including expenditure on a staff of 14.
Whereas, by its Resolution of 18 February 1980 (2) on                                       Article 3
the implementation of a Community plan of action (1980
to 1992) in the field of radioactive waste, the Council           Detailed rules for the implementation of the programme
resolved to ensure the continuity of the R & D                    and the rate of the Community's financial participation
programmes in this sphere during the plan;                        are set out in the Annex.
 (') OJ No C 328, 7. 12. 1987.                                     (3) OJ No L 302, 24. 10. 1987, p. 1.
 (2) OJ No C 51, 29. 2. 1980, p. 1.                                (4) OJ No L 83, 25. 3. 1985, p. 20.
 ---pagebreak--- No C 144/12                            Official Journal of the European Communities                                    10. 6. 89
                           Article 4                                  Article 2 (2) of the framework programme set out in
                                                                      Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC.
 1.   During the third year of implementation, the
Commission shall review the programme and send a                                                 Article 5
report on the results of its review to the Council, the
European Parliament and the Economic and Social                       For the implementation of the programme, the
Committee. This report shall be accompanied where                     Commission shall be assisted by the Management and
necessary by proposals for the amendment or extension                 Coordination Advisory Committee CGC6 'Nuclear
of the programme.                                                     fission energy — Fuel cycle/processing and storage of
                                                                      waste' set up by Council Decision 84/338/Euratom,
2.    At the end of the programme, an evaluation of the               ECSC, EEC ( l ).
results achieved shall be conducted by the Commission
which shall report thereon to the Council, the European                                          Article 6
Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee.
                                                                      This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
3.    The abovementioned reports shall be established
having regard to the objectives set out in the Annex to
this Decision and in accordance with the provisions of                (') OJ No L 177, 4. 7. 1984, p. 25.
                                                             ANNEX
             1. Programme contents and allocation of funding
             The programme is aimed at perfectioning and demonstrating a system for managing the radioactive waste
             produced by the nuclear industry ensuring, at the various stages, the best possible protection of man and
             environment.
             The programme will cover:
                                                             PART A
              Waste management and associated R&D actions
             — Task 1: system studies and harmonization of waste management practices and policies
             — Task 2: treatment of radioactive waste
             — Task 3: characterization and qualification of waste forms, packages and their environment
             — Task 4: radioactive waste disposal; research in support of the development of underground
                          repositories
             — Task 5: safety assessment
                                                             PART B
              Construction and/or operation of underground facilities open to Community joint activities
             — Project 1: pilot underground facility in the Asse salt mine in the Federal Republic of Germany
             — Project 2: pilot underground facility in the argillaceous layer under the Mol nuclear site in Belgium
             — Project 3: underground validation facility in France
             — Projcet 4: underground validation facility in the United Kingdom
             In addition to the above projects, others could be added in the course of the programme.
             From the total budget about 70 % is intended to be allocated to part A and the remaining 30 % to part B.
 ---pagebreak--- 10. 6. 89                              Official J o u r n a l of the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s           N o C 144/13
          2. Implementation of the programme
          The implementation of the programme shall be done mainly through shared-cost contracts with competent
          public organizations or private firms, including small and medium-sized enterprises, within the Member
          States.
          In addition to shared-cost research contracts, the programme may also be carried out by means of study
          contracts, coordination projects and awards of training and mobility grants. Such contracts and grants
          shall, where appropriate, be awarded following a selection procedure based on calls for proposals published
          in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
          The Community's contribution will not normally exceed 50 % of the total allowable costs of the project.
          Alternatively, in respect of universities and similar organizations, the Community may bear up to 100 % of
          the marginal costs which are additional to the normal recurrent costs without the execution of the project.
          Specific coordinated research projects already launched in the previous programme will be continued in
          order to promote and intensify cooperation between teams in the various Member States. In particular
          international cooperation within the projects in Part B (underground facilities) will be promoted.
          The information resulting from the implementation of the shared-cost activities shall be made accessible on
          an equal basis to all Member States. Licences and/or other rights developed in the framework of the
          programme will be subject to the normal contractual conditions of the Community.
          3. Evaluation criteria
          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, taking into account the original objectives,
          — the potential relevance of the results with regard to safety and protection aspects and in particular with
               regard to radioactive waste disposal,
          — the potential relevance of the results with regard to radioactive waste management and disposal at
               industrial scale,
          — the extent to which information exchange and cooperation across the borders of Member States have
               been promoted,
          — the programmes' contribution to the development of Community policies in the field.
           (') COM(86) 660 final.