CELEX: 51975PC0221
Language: en
Date: 1975-05-20
Title: Draft Council Decision containing directives to the Commission for the negotiation of an extension of the Dragon Agreement

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (75) 221
Vol. 1975/0080
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
Conformément au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983,
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit
règlement.
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic
Community and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243,
27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1.
Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983,
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. September 2003
(ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.
 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE SUS.OEBAN GOMMUMTIÏÏS
                                        COM(75 ) 221 final
                                        Brussels , 20 May 1975
                                     Draft
                 Council Deck el o: i containing directives to
                 the Commission for the negotiation of an
                 extension of the Dragon Agreement
  001:1(75 ) 221 final
 ---pagebreak---                                                                   111/400/7^-E
                 C QIIMUITICA TI ON FROM THE COHMT SSION TO  THE COUIIC.TL .
        Extension of the Agreement        concerning; the High-Temperature
             Gas-Cooled Teaotor Project ( OECD Erpgon Project )
The DRAGON Agreement (wiich is implemented under the auspices of the OECD)
is due to expire on 31 March 1976 .        On 17 April 1975 ; "the Board of Management
of the Dragon project approved a proposal to extend the Agreement up to
31 March 1981 , i.e. , for a period of five years instead of three as in the
past . In this proposal , however , provision is made for the programme to be
reviewed after three years , i.e. , by 31 March 1979 - I -» when this review
takes place , there does not seem to be any further point in continuing the
Agreement , the next two years would be spent in winding tip the programmes in
an orderly manner , on both the technical and on the financial fide .          If , on
the other hand , it is considered desirable to go on ivith the Agreement ? a
decision to this effect would likewise have to be taken by 31 ferch 1979 »
One advantage of this approach is it would do much ~oo facilitate the
administration of Project personnel , and thus improve their efficiency and
the quality of the services which the project can provide for the signatories
of the Agreement .     In accordance with Article 3 of the Agreement currently
in force , the decision concerning a further extension must be taken not
later than 30 June 1975 *       ln "the absence of any decision by that date , the
project management would become so critical that preliminary action to wind
up the project would have to be taken in July 1975 -         This would mean in
particular giving the three months notice laid down in the staff regulations
to practically all the staff , shutting down the reactor to start unloading ,
and giving notice of the termination of all outside contracts ( irradiation ,
helium loops for testing materials , etc .). The project is now left, with
very little room for manoeuvre , and it will not be long before irreversible
steps have to be taken .       The' financial position has been made , very difficult
by the rate of inflation , which is much higher than was anticipated . when the
current extension was being negotiated .
 ---pagebreak---                                        ■* 2                  111/400/75-E
Hairing regard "to "the medium-and -long-term importance of high-temperature
reactors both for power production and for other applications (synthetic
fuels f high-t emperature chemical and metallurgical processes ? etc .)? and
the fact that the Dragon Project might contribute substantially to facilitate
and speed up the attainment of these objectives , the Commission feels that
it would be expedient to extend the Agreement on the linen proposed by the
Board of Management . The technical programme would include the following
objectives :                                                     1
1 ) The operation of the Dragon reactor up to March I98O      '
2 ) The rational utilization of the irradiation facilities in the Dragon
    reactor and other European teat reactors , supplemented by an appropriate
    programme of pos~-irradiation examinations , with' the twofold aim of - -
     supporting any commercial initiatives that might be taken ? and later
 j developing tfc.3 fuel technology with a view to advanced applications
3 ) tJsq of the primary circuit of the reactor for testing materials and
    components associated with power reactors (o.g . f thermal insulation ,
    heat exchangers )                                                           '
4) Use of the primary circuit of the reactor for studies on the diffusion ,
     deposition and entr&inmont of fission products .   These studies should
     enable the advantages" of the ETR concept to be mere clearly defined from-
    the point of view' of' component accessibility and of safety                  ;
5) A general evaluation of the RTR concept iii regard to safety r
6 ) Research and development on materials for the primary circuit , with !
     special emphasis" on the problems posed by advanced applications . The
    tests planned under this programme' will be carried out in the Dragon •
     reactor itself , as well as in. existing loops Which are being used under-
     contracts concluded with outside contractors'    '    '           -■ -
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 3                      I 11/400/ 7 5~Ε
7 ) Definition and quant ificat ion of the major problems associated with
    materials for advanced applications : this would he undertaken by a
    small team, who would proceed to evaluate these systems in cooperation
    with bodies and industrial undertakings in the signatory states .
For the implementation of this programme , the Board of Management for the
Dragon project has recommended a total budget of 28 M fe (67.2-.JGJC )- for . five years .
This amount allows for the estimated effects of inflation , as well as for the
closing down of the reactor if it is finally taken out of service on termi­
nation of the Agreement .
The Commission proposes that the contributions should be on the same basis
as in the current Agreement , namely , that Austria, Sweden and Switzerland
should continue to bo^r 9*64       of the total budget between thern f and that
the overall contribution of the United Kingdom ( UAAEA contribution plus the
UK participation in the joint programme of the Nine ) should remain at 48. 30 %.
Having regard to the timescale for the forecast expenditure , this should
represent a contribution of 6.48 IUA ( 9-64 %)         Austria , Switzerland and
Aktiebolaget Ator.anergi of Sweden y 24.86 J-3JA ( 36.99 /') for the UKAEA and
35-86 KUA ( 53.37 $>) for the Community.
In view of the foregoing , the Commission requests the Council issue the
necessary authorization , in accordance with. Article 101 of the Earatois
Treaty, to negotiate an extension of the Dragon Agreement with Austria ,
Switzerland oid the Aktiebolaget Atomenergi of "Sweden p and to take note of
the Commission 's intentions in regard to the sharing of the financial burden
between the Community and the UKAEA .
 ---pagebreak---                                                             ZII/400/75-E
                                      Dlti'FP
    Council Deci s ion containing direc+ives to the C ommission for the
             negotiation of nn pxtcnsion of the Dragon Agreement
The Council of the European Communities ,
Having regard to the .Treaty,- establishing the European Atomic Energy
Corrmunity , and in particular the second paragraph of Article 101 thereof ;
Whereas the Agreement relating to a farther extension of the revised
Agreement concerning the High–Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor Project
( dragon ) | signed or 8 December 197?? provides in Article | ( l ) that a
Decision on a further extension of the Agreement shall "be adop+ed   - not
later than 30 June 1975 >
Having regard to the drax"t presented by the Commission ;
Whereas it is desirable that the Dragon Agreement should be extended for
a further perioa ;
HIS DECIDED A3 FOLLOWS :
                              /
                                   £o je Article
In its negotiations v:ith Austria , Switzerland and the iJctiebclaget
Atomenergi of Sweden fior a further extension of the Dragon Agreement ,
the Commission shall comply with the directives annexed to this Decision .
 ---pagebreak---                                                       ΙΙΙ/400/75-Ξ
                                                      AJTNEX
          Directives from the  Council to the Commission
  for the negotiation   of an extension of the Dragon Agreement
The Commission shall negotiate with Anstx-ia f Switzerland and the
Aktiebolaget At omenergi of Sweden an extension of the Dragon Agreement
for a period of five years , namely from 1 April 1976 *o 31 Karch 190l »
to permit the implementation of the proposed technical programme .
The said programme shall be reviewed before 31 March 1979 ; and it
shall be decided by that date whether the Agreement should be extended
beyond 31 March I98I or allowed to lapse on the latter date .
The Commission shall negotiate this extension as soon as possible
on tern>3 similar to those of the Agreement nou in force , and on the
basis of a financial contribution by the three Parties ofor? sail
amounting to $.64 '% of the total budget .