On Thursday 29 January, the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) held talks with representatives of the European Commission on the revision of the Euratom and ITER regulations.
Laurent Jerrige, Director at the Joint Research Centre in Ispra, explained that this instrument merges the current legislation, the European Instrument for International Nuclear Safety Corporation and the Nuclear Decommissioning Assistance Programme, both of which are under the Euratom Treaty. “The goal is to promote nuclear safety and radiation protection not only within the Union, but also outside as a nuclear incident can have transboundary effects”, he said. There is also a training programme for young engineers who will be joining the dismantling industry.
To achieve this, the Commission has proposed a total financial envelope of €966 million for the period 2028-2034 (see EUROPE 13701/10). This doubling of the budget for indirect European research actions concerns the field of fusion and fission. “The EU’s leadership position in nuclear research is at risk from international competition. Our stated intention to remain top players has to be matched by the budget we commit”, emphasised Joanna Drake, Deputy Director-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD). “The general objective now links with the EU’s wider ambitions on competitiveness, sustainability, and decarbonization”.
MEP and rapporteur Sophie Wilmès (Renew Europe, Belgian) asked the Commission about the budgetary difference between fusion and fission.
Ms Drake replied that in reality, the Joint Research Centre is 99% working on fission. “Overall, we view the budget as well balanced, having €2 billion for fission, including the Joint Research Centre, and €2 billion for fission on indirect actions in the next Multiannual Financial Framework”, she detailed.
She announced that the Commission will soon publish communications on fusion strategy, which will give “clear direction to industry” by continuing the construction of ‘ITER’, launching a public-private partnership and encouraging start-ups by contributing to the European Innovation Council for fusion (see EUROPE 13652/16). (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)