Euratom research and training programme 2021–2025

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the report by Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI (S&D, FI) on the proposal for a Council regulation establishing the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for the period 2021-2025 complementing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

The Committee’s main amendments were as follows:

Parliament should be consulted at all relevant steps during the implementation and evaluation of the programme because the European Parliament is not considered to be on an equal footing with the Council when adopting legislation relating to atomic energy.Given Parliament’s role as a co-legislator regarding budgetary matters and in order to ensure the coherent design and implementation of the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, it believed that the Euratom Research and Training Programme should also be adopted by means of the ordinary legislative procedure.

It clarified that nuclear research makes an important contribution to environmental sustainability and the fight to combat climate change by reducing the EU’s dependence on imported energy.

The Committee added a new recital highlighting how Euratom waste management projects contribute to a better understanding of radioactive waste management issues in the EU, such as the safety of future geological disposal facilities, radioactive waste conditioning and the long-term behaviour of spent fuel in a landfill.

Members also added an amendment in relation to policy on nuclear safety, safeguards and security, highlighting the importanceof developing knowledge on safe, effective and cost-efficient decommissioning of installations which reach the end of their lifespan — an area in which provisions and investment is lagging behind.

In relation to nuclear safety, they propose support should be provided for sharing information and best practices related to the safety of reactor systems and fuel cycles currently in use, especially in the case of nuclear facilities located in the vicinity of one or more borders between Member States.

Members also specify that support for sharing best practices and knowledge on decommissioning, should include knowledge sharing in the case of nuclear facilities located in the vicinity of one or more borders between Member States and by means of pooling resources and personnel in centres of excellence.

They clarified the budget of EUR 1 675 000 000 in current prices as EUR 1 516 000 000 in 2018 prices.

Members also clarified the distribution of the budget as follows:

• 43 % for fusion research and development;
• 25 % for nuclear fission, safety and radiation protection; and
• 32 % for direct actions undertaken by the Joint Research Centre (JRC).

They also proposed that in relation to JRC direct actions, the Commission may deviate from the amounts within the annual budgetary procedureby a maximum of 10 %.

The Committee also introduces as a condition for the participation of third countries in the programme their respect for the principles of the rule of law.

Recipients of programme funding must ensure they acknowledge the origin and indicate the origins of EU funding that they have received to ensure its visibility.

The Commission’s information and communication activities relating to the programme actions and results should be pitched at both specialist recipients and the public.