CELEX: 51984PC0231
Language: en
Date: 1984-05-02
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ADOPTING A PROGRAMME ON THE MANAGEMENT AND STORAGE OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE ( 1985 TO 1989 )

No C 166/4                            Official Journal of the European Communities                              26. 6. 84
                                                             II
                                                     (Preparatory Acts)
                                               COMMISSION
              Proposal for a Council Decision adopting a programme on the management and storage
                                           of radioactive waste (1985 to 1989)
                                                    COM(84) 231 final
                              (Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 3 May 1984)
                                                      (84/C 166/05)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN                                      Whereas, by its resolution of 18 February 1980 (4) on
COMMUNITIES,                                                     the implementation of a Community plan of action
                                                                 (1980 to 1992) in the field of radioactive waste, the
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the                     Council is resolved to ensure the continuity of the
European Atomic Energy Community, and in                         R & D programmes during the plan;
particular Article 7 thereof,
                                                                 Whereas the Council resolution of 25 July 1983 (5) on
                                                                 the framework programmes of research, development
Having regard to the proposal submitted by the                   and demonstration Community activities and on the
Commission after consulting the Scientific and                   first framework programme (1984 to 1987) includes
Technical Committee,                                             the development of the fission nuclear energy among
                                                                 the scientific and technical objectives for 1984 to
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par-                1987;
liament,
                                                                 Whereas the programme on the management and
                                                                 storage of radioactive waste adopted by Decision of
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and
                                                                 18 March 1980 (6) has facilitated the acquisition of a
Social Committee,
                                                                 large amount of information which it is advisable to
                                                                 complete and validate by the implementation of
Whereas the use of nuclear energy inevitably involves            research, development and demonstration actions
the production of radioactive waste; whereas it is               representing the real waste management and storage
therefore essential to implement effective solutions to          conditions which can be expected in the future,
guarantee the safety and protection of populations
and the environment against the potential risks
                                                                 HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
associated with the management of such waste;
                                                                                           Article 1
Whereas the programme of action of the European
Communities on the environment, which was                        A programme on the management and storage of
approved by the Council of the European                          radioactive waste, as defined in the Annex hereto, is
Communities and the representatives of the                       hereby adopted for a five-year period beginning on
Governments of the Member States meeting in the                   1 January 1985.
Council in the Declaration of 22 November 1973 ( l ),
and of which the continuation of implementation is
contained in the resolutions of 17 May 1977 (2) and                                        Article 2
of 7 February 1983 (3), underlines the need for                  The      expenditure      commitments  necessary      to
Community action on the handling and storage of                  implement the programme, including the expenditure
radioactive waste, and specifies the content of and              commitments for a staff of 15, are estimated at 92
procedures for implementing such action;                         million ECU.
(') O J N o C 112,20. 12. 1973.                                  (4) O J N o C 51, 29.2. 1980.
 2
( ) OJ N o C 139, 13. 6. 1977.                                   (') OJ No C 208, 4. 8. 1983.
(3) OJ N o C 46, 17. 2. 1983.                                     (*) OJ No L 78, 25. 3. 1980.
 ---pagebreak--- 26.6. 84                                Official Journal of the European Communities                                  No C 166/5
                          Article 3                                                             Article 4
The programme shall be reviewed at the end of the                     In the implementation of this programme, the
second year in accordance with the appropriate                        Commission shall be assisted by the Advisory
procedures. This review may lead to the addition of                   Committee on Management and Coordination for
new projects on underground facilities.                               Nuclear Fission, the terms of reference and
                                                                      composition of which were defined in the Council
                                                                      resolution of . . . .
                                                              ANNEX
            The programme is aimed at jointly perfecting and demonstrating a management system of the radio-
            active waste produced by the nuclear industry ensuring, at the various stages, the best possible
            protection of man and environment.
            The programme will cover:
            A. Waste-management studies and associated R & D actions.
                Task 1: system studies.
                Task 2: improvement of waste treatment and conditioning technologies.
                Task 3: evaluation of conditioned waste and qualification of engineered barriers.
                Task 4: research in support of the development of disposal facilities; shallow burial and
                           geological disposal studies.
                Task 5: safety of geological disposal.
                Task 6: joint elaboration of radioactive waste-management policies.
             B. Construction and/or operation of underground facilities open to Community joint activities
                (initially for the three projects listed below, but taking into account that additional proposals are
                likely).
                Project 1: pilot underground facility in the Asse salt mine.
                Project 2: pilot underground facility in the argillaceous layer located under the Mol nuclear site.
                Project 3: experimental underground          facility  in France in a geological         medium of
                             complementary nature.
            The work described in A and B will be carried out mainly under contract.