This ex-ante evaluation accompanies the legislative package of Commission's proposals for the Euratom nuclear research and training activities (2012-13).
The legislative package consists of:
The legislative package aims to continue supporting R&D actions in the nuclear field carried out under the 7th Euratom Framework Programme (2007-2011). The proposals will only cover two years (2012-13), in accordance with the current financial perspectives (2007-2013) and in line with the timeframe of the EU 7th Framework Programme (2007-2013).
Research co-funded by Euratom plays an important role in enhancing the safety, resource efficiency and cost-effectiveness of nuclear fission and other uses of radiation in industry and medicine, and some of the research project are playing a key initiating role in the recently launched European Sustainable Nuclear Industrial Initiative (ESNII), one of the six European industrial initiatives launched under the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-plan) in 2010.
The proposals for the Euratom Framework Programme are clearly linked to the objectives of the Europe 2020 and Energy 2020 strategies. The programme will contribute to the Innovation Union flagship by supporting pre-commercial research and facilitating technology transfer process between academia and industry and to the Resource efficient Europe flagship by greatly increasing the overall sustainability of nuclear energy. By putting emphasis on training in all its activities, boosting competitiveness in the current nuclear industry and creating a new sector of high-tech industry for fusion energy in particular, the Euratom programme will lead to growth and new jobs in a wide range of disciplines. Proposals for the Euratom Framework Programme follow up the conclusions of the European Council (4 February 2011) which agreed that the EU and its Member States will promote investment in renewables, safe and sustainable low carbon technologies and focus on implementing the technology priorities established in the SET-plan. Both nuclear fission and fusion are identified in the SET-Plan as energy technologies which Europe must maintain, develop and deploy in order to meet its short and longer term energy objectives.
Lastly, proposals for the Euratom Framework Programme (2012-2013) take account of the simplification process, launched by the Commission in 2010, which makes current and future research programme more attractive and more accessible to the best researchers and most innovative companies. Simplification measures for the Euratom Framework Programme (2012-2013) will be implemented through the Commission decision C(2011)174 of 24 January 2011.