PURPOSE: The establishment of a specific programme\nsetting up direct actions in the field of nuclear research and\ntraining activities for the Joint Research Centre (JRC) within the\ncontext of the Euratom Treaty
\nPROPOSED ACT : Council Decision
\nCONTENT: The European Commission is presenting two\n\"specific programmes\" in follow up to the adoption in April 2005 of\nits proposal for the 7th Framework Programme of the\nEuropean Atomic Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and\ntraining activities. The Euratom framework programme is to last\nfrom 2007 to 2011. The first specific programme of the\nEuratom Treaty, being discussed here, concerns \"direct\" research\nactivities of the Joint Research Centre relating to nuclear energy.\nThe second, which is the subject of a separate Commission proposal\n(2005/0190), concerns \"indirect\" actions on fusion energy research,\nnuclear fission and radiation protection.
\nBackground:
\nThe specific programmes of the 7th Euratom\nFramework Programme have been designed to address the major\nchallenges facing European nuclear research. Financial support at a\nEuropean level offers European nuclear researchers the kind of\nopportunities that can not be achieved at a national level. The\nspecific programmes represent a further consolidation of the\nEuropean Research Area by achieving a critical mass of knowledge in\nnew areas of research. In addition, European funded RT&D\nsupports the free movement of ideas, knowledge and researchers. An\nemphasis on flexibility will allow researchers to respond to\nemerging industrial as well as social needs. Flexibility aside, the\nCommission also promises to streamline management methods by\nsignificantly cutting red tape as well as simplifying the funding\nand reporting requirements.
\nSpecific programme - Direct Actions of the Joint\nResearch Centre concerning nuclear energy:
\nThe stated objective of the JRC specific programme in\nthe field of nuclear energy is to provide scientific and technical\nsupport to the European Union for the preparation and enactment of\nits energy policies. The work of the JRC will help to secure the\neffective implementation of the Communities energy policies by\nguaranteeing the EU institutions a scientific back-up for its\nenergy strategy as well as offering an extensive monitoring system\nof existing policies. The JRC is committed to undertaking high\nquality research activities in close contact with industry and\nother bodies and to develop networks with public and private\ninstitutions in the Member States. Other JRC activities include\noffering advice and support to both the Commission and the Member\nStates on nuclear safeguards, nuclear non-proliferation, and waste\nmanagement, the safety of nuclear installations and fuel cycle\nanalysis, environmental radioactivity and radiation protection\nissues. Bearing these factors in mind, the Commission proposes\ndividing the special programme into three activities; the first\nfocuses on nuclear waste management, environmental impact and basic\nknowledge; the second, deals with nuclear safety and the third,\nnuclear security.
\nConcerning the first activity, nuclear waste\nmanagement, environmental impact and basic knowledge, the following\ntopics will be given priority research:
\n- Spent\nfuel characterisation, storage and disposal. The JRC will,\ninter alia, seek to obtain data pertinent to the long-term\nbehaviour of spent fuel as well as developing methods for the\nreliable assessment of the engineered systems. Emphasis will be\ngiven to the integrity of the waste packages and benchmarking\nrisk-orientated criterias for decision making.
\n- Partitioning,\nTransmutation and Conditioning: The major challenge here is\noptimising fuel partitioning and to separate selected long-lived\nradio nuclides. The study of this alternative waste management is\ngiven high consideration given that it could considerably reduce\nthe long-term hazardous nature of nuclear waste disposal. The JRC\nwill operate new facilities for advanced partitioning and for the\nproduction of fuels and targets in this area.
\n- Basic\nactinide research: The basic research activity related to this\nresearch will focus on trying to understand the physical processes\nof nuclear fuel. Focus will be given to thermo-physical properties\nof materials, surface properties of actinide bearing systems and\nfundamental physical and chemical properties. The JRC will continue\nto host scientists from across European universities in its\nfacilities such as the Actinide User Laboratory.
\n- Nuclear\nData: The JRC will perform measurements of nuclear data for\nwaste management purposes
\n- Medical\napplications from nuclear research: A number of medical\napplications are the result of work carried out at the JRC's\nnuclear facilities. The JRC will seek to apply these new\napplications in hospitals as well as extending its scope to the\npharmaceutical industry.
\n- Measurement\nof radioactivity in the environment: Currently, the JRC is\nconducting on-going research into tracing radioactive discharges\nand emissions from nuclear installations. Work includes studies on\nspeciation, migration patterns in the biosphere and the\nradio-toxicology of actinides. The JRC proposes to continue this\nwork to developing analytical techniques and producing scientific\nstudies on reference materials. Inter-laboratory comparisons will\nbe organised with the monitoring laboratories of the Member States\nto assess the comparability of the reported monitoring data and to\nsupport the harmonisation of the radioactive measurement\nsystem.
\n- Knowledge\nmanagement, training and education: Under this heading the JRC\nwill seek to maintain and deepen the understanding of nuclear\nresearch based on past research and experiments. The JRC will\ncontinue to contribute towards disseminating nuclear knowledge by\noffering well documented archives and by offering support to\nEuropean universities. The JRC will, in addition, seek to offer\nenhanced communication to the wider public on energy related\nissues.
\nUnder the second heading, Nuclear Safety, the JRC will\nbe expected to focus on the following subjects:
\n- Nuclear\nreactor safety: Under this heading the JRC will be expected to\nmaintain as well as improve upon the safety levels of both Western\nand Russian type nuclear power plants. In order to validate and\nassess safety the JRC will carry out targeted experimental\ninvestigations. The JRC will remain fully involved in international\nefforts for an advanced nuclear reactor safety.
\n- Nuclear\nfuel safety in power reactors operating in the EU: There are\ntwo key topics, which concern researchers under this heading,\nnamely, the mechanical integrity of fuel assemblies during a\nreactor's life-time and the fuel response to transient conditions\nand a severe reactor accident including a core melt-down. The JRC\nis therefore, focusing on fuel development strategy with an\nemphasis on safety ad reducing civil and military plutonium\nstockpiles. The JRC will make the best use of the HFR to test fuel\nbehaviour and properties. Measurement of performance-affecting\nproperties will also be carried out.
\n- Safe\nOperation of Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems: The JCR\nwill continue its essential, collaborative work with the Generation\nIV Roadmap, which is a global initiative to improve safety, reduce\nwaste and halt proliferation.
\nUnder the third heading, Nuclear Security, the\nfollowing policies will be prioritised:
\n- Nuclear\nSafeguards: Within the context of the Non-proliferation Treaty,\nthe JRC will continue to offer technical support to both the\nEuropean Commission as well as the IAEA. The main objective of this\nsub-heading will be to increase automation and discover more\nefficient tools relating to information analysis. They will also be\na growing effort to reduce inspector workload.
\n- Additional\nProtocol: The purpose of the Additional Protocol is to\nguarantee the absence of undeclared nuclear operations. The\ntechniques used to implement its provisions are different to those\nneeded for verifying nuclear material accountancy. These can\ninclude, for example, off-site monitoring and monitoring activities\noutside the facility boundaries as well as environment particle\nanalysis as a tool to detect undeclared nuclear activity. Under\nthis sub-heading, therefore, the JRC will attempt to move towards\nreal-time follow-up of nuclear material transfers.
\n- Open\nsource Information collection on Nuclear non-Proliferation: The\nJRC will systematically collect and analyse information from a\nvariety of sources, such as the internet, specialised literature\nand data bases. Country Reports will be prepared on the basis of\nthe information gathered.
\n- Combating\nillicit trafficking of nuclear materials, including nuclear\nforensic analysis: The detection and identification of\nillegally transported or stored nuclear material acts as a major\nline of defence in the fight against illicit trafficking. Nuclear\nforensic science provides clues as to the origin of seized\nmaterial. Establishing appropriate response plans for handling\ncases of detection remains a relevant issue. Hence, the JRC's\ncontinuing collaboration with national and international\norganisations in finding a lasting response to this\nissue.
\nLastly, both at the implementation level and the\nresearch level, the JRC is committed to respecting fundamental\nethical principles based, inter alia, on those reflected in\nthe Charter of Fundamental EU Rights.
\n\n
\nFor further information concerning the financial\nimplications of this measure, please refer to the financial\nstatement.
\nOn 21 September 2005, the Commission presented a\nproposal for a Council Decision concerning the Specific Programme\nto be carried out by means of direct actions by the Joint Research\nCentre implementing the 7th Framework Programme (2007-2011) of the\nEuropean Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and\ntraining activities.
\nThe overall financial amount initially proposed by the\nCommission amounted to EUR 539,077 million.
\nThe Commission subsequently adapted the budgetary\naspects of these proposals following the Interinstitutional\nAgreement of 17 May 2006 on the Financial Framework\n2007-2013.
\nThe new overall amount is set at EUR 517\nmillion.
\nPlease refer to the financial statement for more\ndetails.
\nThe committee adopted the report by\nDaniel CASPARY (EPP-ED, DE) amending - under the consultation\nprocedure - the specific programme to be carried out by means of\ndirect actions by the Joint Research Centre implementing the 7th\nEURATOM Framework Programme (2007-2011) for nuclear research and\ntraining activities. In the legislative resolution, the committee\nsaid that the indicative financial reference amount indicated in\nthe legislative proposal must be compatible with the ceiling of\nheading 1a of the new multiannual financial framework, and pointed\nout that the annual amount would be decided within the annual\nbudgetary procedure. It also adopted a new Article 5a stipulating\nthat the Commission should provide prior information to the\nbudgetary authority whenever it intends to depart from the\nbreakdown of expenditure stated in the remarks and annex to the\nannual budget. The other key amendments were as follows:
\n- the JRC should seek to \"maintain its own\nlevel of scientific excellence\" and hence \"step up activities\ndevoted strictly to research, without prejudice to those directly\nintended to meet the requirements of Community policies\";
\n- given the lack of new scientists and\nengineers in the area of nuclear technology, the JRC should\nestablish itself as a European centre for the dissemination of\ninformation and for training and education. It should implement a\nprogramme aimed at retaining knowledge, as well as a programme\ndesigned to attract young people into the field of nuclear energy\nresearch;
\n- another objective should be the further\ndevelopment of collaboration through networking, leading to a broad\nconsensus on a number of issues at European and world level. The\ncommittee stressed that the application of safeguards by the\nEuratom Safeguards Office and the International Atomic Energy\nAgency required R&D support and direct assistance, and that\nspecial attention would be given to cooperation with future EU\nMember States;
\n- the JRC should contribute to the search for\nsolutions to the increasingly important urgent of nuclear waste\ndisposal and environmental impact;
\n- lastly, the committee felt that it was\ncrucially important that the necessary technical capacities to\nevaluate and deal with the threat of proliferation of nuclear\nweapons should continue to be available within the JRC.
\n\n
The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on\nthe report drafted by Daniel\nCASPARY (EPP-ED, DE) and made some amendments to the\nproposal, which conformed, for the most part, to the report of its\ncompetent committee. (Please refer to the summary of\n10/10/2006.)
\nPURPOSE: to adopt a Specific Programme for direct\nNuclear research and training activities to be carried out\nby the Joint Research Centre (JRC) under the 7th\n Euratom Framework Programme
\nLEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2006/977/Euratom\nconcerning the Specific Programme to be carried out by means of\ndirect actions by the Joint Research Centre implementing the\nSeventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community\n(Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities (2007 -\n2011).
\nCONTENT: the adoption of a Specific Programme for the\ndirect nuclear research and training to be carried out by the JRC\nstems from Council Decision 2006/970/Euratom concerning the Seventh\nFramework Programme (2007-2011). See: CNS/2005/0044.
\nTwo Specific Programmes were approved by the\n7th Framework Programme of the European Atomic Community\n(Euratom). The first, the subject of thus summary, concerns\n\"direct\" research activities of the Joint Research Centre relating\nto nuclear energy. The second, concerns \"indirect\" actions on\nfusion energy research, nuclear fission and radiation protection.\nSee CNS/2005/0190.
\nThe stated objective of this JRC Specific Programme in\nthe field of nuclear energy is to provide scientific and technical\nsupport to the European Union for the preparation and enactment of\nits energy policies. The work of the JRC will help secure the\neffective implementation of the Community's energy policies by\nguaranteeing the EU institutions a scientific back-up for its\nenergy strategy as well as offering an extensive monitoring system\nof existing policies. The JRC is committed to undertaking high\nquality research activities in close contact with industry and\nother bodies and to develop networks with public and private\ninstitutions in the Member States. Other JRC activities include\noffering advice and support to both the Commission and the Member\nStates on nuclear safeguards, nuclear non-proliferation, and waste\nmanagement, the safety of nuclear installations and fuel cycle\nanalysis, environmental radioactivity and radiation protection\nissues. The Programme has been awarded a EUR 517 million\nbudget to help realise these objectives.
\nThe Specific Programme is characterised by three\nactivities:
\n1) Nuclear Waste Management, environmental\nimpact: Under this heading the\nfollowing topics will be given priority research: spent fuel\ncharacterisation, storage and disposal; partitioning,\ntransmutation and conditioning; basic actinide research;\nnuclear data; medical applications from nuclear research;\nmeasurement of radioactivity in the environment; and knowledge\nmanagement, training and education.
\n2) Nuclear Safety:\nUnder this heading the JRC will be expected to focus on the\nfollowing subjects: nuclear reactor safety; nuclear fuel safety in\npower reactors operating in the EU; and the safe operation of\nadvanced nuclear energy systems.
\n3) Nuclear Security: Under this heading the following policies will be\nprioritised: nuclear safeguards; additional protocol; open source\ninformation collection on nuclear non-proliferation; and combating\nillicit trafficking of nuclear materials, including nuclear\nforensic analysis:
\nLastly, both at the implementation level and the\nresearch level, the JRC is committed to respecting fundamental\nethical principles based, inter alia, on those reflected in\nthe Charter of Fundamental EU Rights.
\nENTRY INTO FORCE: 2 January 2007.
\nPURPOSE: The establishment of a specific programme\nsetting up direct actions in the field of nuclear research and\ntraining activities for the Joint Research Centre (JRC) within the\ncontext of the Euratom Treaty
\nPROPOSED ACT : Council Decision
\nCONTENT: The European Commission is presenting two\n\"specific programmes\" in follow up to the adoption in April 2005 of\nits proposal for the 7th Framework Programme of the\nEuropean Atomic Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and\ntraining activities. The Euratom framework programme is to last\nfrom 2007 to 2011. The first specific programme of the\nEuratom Treaty, being discussed here, concerns \"direct\" research\nactivities of the Joint Research Centre relating to nuclear energy.\nThe second, which is the subject of a separate Commission proposal\n(2005/0190), concerns \"indirect\" actions on fusion energy research,\nnuclear fission and radiation protection.
\nBackground:
\nThe specific programmes of the 7th Euratom\nFramework Programme have been designed to address the major\nchallenges facing European nuclear research. Financial support at a\nEuropean level offers European nuclear researchers the kind of\nopportunities that can not be achieved at a national level. The\nspecific programmes represent a further consolidation of the\nEuropean Research Area by achieving a critical mass of knowledge in\nnew areas of research. In addition, European funded RT&D\nsupports the free movement of ideas, knowledge and researchers. An\nemphasis on flexibility will allow researchers to respond to\nemerging industrial as well as social needs. Flexibility aside, the\nCommission also promises to streamline management methods by\nsignificantly cutting red tape as well as simplifying the funding\nand reporting requirements.
\nSpecific programme - Direct Actions of the Joint\nResearch Centre concerning nuclear energy:
\nThe stated objective of the JRC specific programme in\nthe field of nuclear energy is to provide scientific and technical\nsupport to the European Union for the preparation and enactment of\nits energy policies. The work of the JRC will help to secure the\neffective implementation of the Communities energy policies by\nguaranteeing the EU institutions a scientific back-up for its\nenergy strategy as well as offering an extensive monitoring system\nof existing policies. The JRC is committed to undertaking high\nquality research activities in close contact with industry and\nother bodies and to develop networks with public and private\ninstitutions in the Member States. Other JRC activities include\noffering advice and support to both the Commission and the Member\nStates on nuclear safeguards, nuclear non-proliferation, and waste\nmanagement, the safety of nuclear installations and fuel cycle\nanalysis, environmental radioactivity and radiation protection\nissues. Bearing these factors in mind, the Commission proposes\ndividing the special programme into three activities; the first\nfocuses on nuclear waste management, environmental impact and basic\nknowledge; the second, deals with nuclear safety and the third,\nnuclear security.
\nConcerning the first activity, nuclear waste\nmanagement, environmental impact and basic knowledge, the following\ntopics will be given priority research:
\n- Spent\nfuel characterisation, storage and disposal. The JRC will,\ninter alia, seek to obtain data pertinent to the long-term\nbehaviour of spent fuel as well as developing methods for the\nreliable assessment of the engineered systems. Emphasis will be\ngiven to the integrity of the waste packages and benchmarking\nrisk-orientated criterias for decision making.
\n- Partitioning,\nTransmutation and Conditioning: The major challenge here is\noptimising fuel partitioning and to separate selected long-lived\nradio nuclides. The study of this alternative waste management is\ngiven high consideration given that it could considerably reduce\nthe long-term hazardous nature of nuclear waste disposal. The JRC\nwill operate new facilities for advanced partitioning and for the\nproduction of fuels and targets in this area.
\n- Basic\nactinide research: The basic research activity related to this\nresearch will focus on trying to understand the physical processes\nof nuclear fuel. Focus will be given to thermo-physical properties\nof materials, surface properties of actinide bearing systems and\nfundamental physical and chemical properties. The JRC will continue\nto host scientists from across European universities in its\nfacilities such as the Actinide User Laboratory.
\n- Nuclear\nData: The JRC will perform measurements of nuclear data for\nwaste management purposes
\n- Medical\napplications from nuclear research: A number of medical\napplications are the result of work carried out at the JRC's\nnuclear facilities. The JRC will seek to apply these new\napplications in hospitals as well as extending its scope to the\npharmaceutical industry.
\n- Measurement\nof radioactivity in the environment: Currently, the JRC is\nconducting on-going research into tracing radioactive discharges\nand emissions from nuclear installations. Work includes studies on\nspeciation, migration patterns in the biosphere and the\nradio-toxicology of actinides. The JRC proposes to continue this\nwork to developing analytical techniques and producing scientific\nstudies on reference materials. Inter-laboratory comparisons will\nbe organised with the monitoring laboratories of the Member States\nto assess the comparability of the reported monitoring data and to\nsupport the harmonisation of the radioactive measurement\nsystem.
\n- Knowledge\nmanagement, training and education: Under this heading the JRC\nwill seek to maintain and deepen the understanding of nuclear\nresearch based on past research and experiments. The JRC will\ncontinue to contribute towards disseminating nuclear knowledge by\noffering well documented archives and by offering support to\nEuropean universities. The JRC will, in addition, seek to offer\nenhanced communication to the wider public on energy related\nissues.
\nUnder the second heading, Nuclear Safety, the JRC will\nbe expected to focus on the following subjects:
\n- Nuclear\nreactor safety: Under this heading the JRC will be expected to\nmaintain as well as improve upon the safety levels of both Western\nand Russian type nuclear power plants. In order to validate and\nassess safety the JRC will carry out targeted experimental\ninvestigations. The JRC will remain fully involved in international\nefforts for an advanced nuclear reactor safety.
\n- Nuclear\nfuel safety in power reactors operating in the EU: There are\ntwo key topics, which concern researchers under this heading,\nnamely, the mechanical integrity of fuel assemblies during a\nreactor's life-time and the fuel response to transient conditions\nand a severe reactor accident including a core melt-down. The JRC\nis therefore, focusing on fuel development strategy with an\nemphasis on safety ad reducing civil and military plutonium\nstockpiles. The JRC will make the best use of the HFR to test fuel\nbehaviour and properties. Measurement of performance-affecting\nproperties will also be carried out.
\n- Safe\nOperation of Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems: The JCR\nwill continue its essential, collaborative work with the Generation\nIV Roadmap, which is a global initiative to improve safety, reduce\nwaste and halt proliferation.
\nUnder the third heading, Nuclear Security, the\nfollowing policies will be prioritised:
\n- Nuclear\nSafeguards: Within the context of the Non-proliferation Treaty,\nthe JRC will continue to offer technical support to both the\nEuropean Commission as well as the IAEA. The main objective of this\nsub-heading will be to increase automation and discover more\nefficient tools relating to information analysis. They will also be\na growing effort to reduce inspector workload.
\n- Additional\nProtocol: The purpose of the Additional Protocol is to\nguarantee the absence of undeclared nuclear operations. The\ntechniques used to implement its provisions are different to those\nneeded for verifying nuclear material accountancy. These can\ninclude, for example, off-site monitoring and monitoring activities\noutside the facility boundaries as well as environment particle\nanalysis as a tool to detect undeclared nuclear activity. Under\nthis sub-heading, therefore, the JRC will attempt to move towards\nreal-time follow-up of nuclear material transfers.
\n- Open\nsource Information collection on Nuclear non-Proliferation: The\nJRC will systematically collect and analyse information from a\nvariety of sources, such as the internet, specialised literature\nand data bases. Country Reports will be prepared on the basis of\nthe information gathered.
\n- Combating\nillicit trafficking of nuclear materials, including nuclear\nforensic analysis: The detection and identification of\nillegally transported or stored nuclear material acts as a major\nline of defence in the fight against illicit trafficking. Nuclear\nforensic science provides clues as to the origin of seized\nmaterial. Establishing appropriate response plans for handling\ncases of detection remains a relevant issue. Hence, the JRC's\ncontinuing collaboration with national and international\norganisations in finding a lasting response to this\nissue.
\nLastly, both at the implementation level and the\nresearch level, the JRC is committed to respecting fundamental\nethical principles based, inter alia, on those reflected in\nthe Charter of Fundamental EU Rights.
\n\n
\nFor further information concerning the financial\nimplications of this measure, please refer to the financial\nstatement.
\nOn 21 September 2005, the Commission presented a\nproposal for a Council Decision concerning the Specific Programme\nto be carried out by means of direct actions by the Joint Research\nCentre implementing the 7th Framework Programme (2007-2011) of the\nEuropean Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and\ntraining activities.
\nThe overall financial amount initially proposed by the\nCommission amounted to EUR 539,077 million.
\nThe Commission subsequently adapted the budgetary\naspects of these proposals following the Interinstitutional\nAgreement of 17 May 2006 on the Financial Framework\n2007-2013.
\nThe new overall amount is set at EUR 517\nmillion.
\nPlease refer to the financial statement for more\ndetails.
\nThe committee adopted the report by\nDaniel CASPARY (EPP-ED, DE) amending - under the consultation\nprocedure - the specific programme to be carried out by means of\ndirect actions by the Joint Research Centre implementing the 7th\nEURATOM Framework Programme (2007-2011) for nuclear research and\ntraining activities. In the legislative resolution, the committee\nsaid that the indicative financial reference amount indicated in\nthe legislative proposal must be compatible with the ceiling of\nheading 1a of the new multiannual financial framework, and pointed\nout that the annual amount would be decided within the annual\nbudgetary procedure. It also adopted a new Article 5a stipulating\nthat the Commission should provide prior information to the\nbudgetary authority whenever it intends to depart from the\nbreakdown of expenditure stated in the remarks and annex to the\nannual budget. The other key amendments were as follows:
\n- the JRC should seek to \"maintain its own\nlevel of scientific excellence\" and hence \"step up activities\ndevoted strictly to research, without prejudice to those directly\nintended to meet the requirements of Community policies\";
\n- given the lack of new scientists and\nengineers in the area of nuclear technology, the JRC should\nestablish itself as a European centre for the dissemination of\ninformation and for training and education. It should implement a\nprogramme aimed at retaining knowledge, as well as a programme\ndesigned to attract young people into the field of nuclear energy\nresearch;
\n- another objective should be the further\ndevelopment of collaboration through networking, leading to a broad\nconsensus on a number of issues at European and world level. The\ncommittee stressed that the application of safeguards by the\nEuratom Safeguards Office and the International Atomic Energy\nAgency required R&D support and direct assistance, and that\nspecial attention would be given to cooperation with future EU\nMember States;
\n- the JRC should contribute to the search for\nsolutions to the increasingly important urgent of nuclear waste\ndisposal and environmental impact;
\n- lastly, the committee felt that it was\ncrucially important that the necessary technical capacities to\nevaluate and deal with the threat of proliferation of nuclear\nweapons should continue to be available within the JRC.
\n\n
The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on\nthe report drafted by Daniel\nCASPARY (EPP-ED, DE) and made some amendments to the\nproposal, which conformed, for the most part, to the report of its\ncompetent committee. (Please refer to the summary of\n10/10/2006.)
\nPURPOSE: to adopt a Specific Programme for direct\nNuclear research and training activities to be carried out\nby the Joint Research Centre (JRC) under the 7th\n Euratom Framework Programme
\nLEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2006/977/Euratom\nconcerning the Specific Programme to be carried out by means of\ndirect actions by the Joint Research Centre implementing the\nSeventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community\n(Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities (2007 -\n2011).
\nCONTENT: the adoption of a Specific Programme for the\ndirect nuclear research and training to be carried out by the JRC\nstems from Council Decision 2006/970/Euratom concerning the Seventh\nFramework Programme (2007-2011). See: CNS/2005/0044.
\nTwo Specific Programmes were approved by the\n7th Framework Programme of the European Atomic Community\n(Euratom). The first, the subject of thus summary, concerns\n\"direct\" research activities of the Joint Research Centre relating\nto nuclear energy. The second, concerns \"indirect\" actions on\nfusion energy research, nuclear fission and radiation protection.\nSee CNS/2005/0190.
\nThe stated objective of this JRC Specific Programme in\nthe field of nuclear energy is to provide scientific and technical\nsupport to the European Union for the preparation and enactment of\nits energy policies. The work of the JRC will help secure the\neffective implementation of the Community's energy policies by\nguaranteeing the EU institutions a scientific back-up for its\nenergy strategy as well as offering an extensive monitoring system\nof existing policies. The JRC is committed to undertaking high\nquality research activities in close contact with industry and\nother bodies and to develop networks with public and private\ninstitutions in the Member States. Other JRC activities include\noffering advice and support to both the Commission and the Member\nStates on nuclear safeguards, nuclear non-proliferation, and waste\nmanagement, the safety of nuclear installations and fuel cycle\nanalysis, environmental radioactivity and radiation protection\nissues. The Programme has been awarded a EUR 517 million\nbudget to help realise these objectives.
\nThe Specific Programme is characterised by three\nactivities:
\n1) Nuclear Waste Management, environmental\nimpact: Under this heading the\nfollowing topics will be given priority research: spent fuel\ncharacterisation, storage and disposal; partitioning,\ntransmutation and conditioning; basic actinide research;\nnuclear data; medical applications from nuclear research;\nmeasurement of radioactivity in the environment; and knowledge\nmanagement, training and education.
\n2) Nuclear Safety:\nUnder this heading the JRC will be expected to focus on the\nfollowing subjects: nuclear reactor safety; nuclear fuel safety in\npower reactors operating in the EU; and the safe operation of\nadvanced nuclear energy systems.
\n3) Nuclear Security: Under this heading the following policies will be\nprioritised: nuclear safeguards; additional protocol; open source\ninformation collection on nuclear non-proliferation; and combating\nillicit trafficking of nuclear materials, including nuclear\nforensic analysis:
\nLastly, both at the implementation level and the\nresearch level, the JRC is committed to respecting fundamental\nethical principles based, inter alia, on those reflected in\nthe Charter of Fundamental EU Rights.
\nENTRY INTO FORCE: 2 January 2007.
\n