Brussels, 28/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the Commission and Japan signed a cooperation agreement on the peaceful uses of nuclear power. Covering an initial period of thirty years, the agreement seeks to provide a stable framework for the development of nuclear trade between the two parties in areas of common interest, such as technology, nuclear reactors and safety, radiation protection, the nuclear fuel cycle and safeguards. A separate agreement will be concluded to cover nuclear research at a later stage. Cooperation between the EU and Japan will take place in strict compliance with international rules on non-proliferation, safeguards, safety and physical protection of nuclear material. It also takes into account the specific concerns for transparency with regard to sensitive nuclear material, in particular plutonium. Apart from its political dimension, the agreement also includes a strong commercial component, estimated at tens of billions of euros for the time of its duration.