Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2011)812 - Research and Training Programme of Euratom (2014-2018) complementing the Horizon 2020 - The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation - Main contents
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| dossier | COM(2011)812 - Research and Training Programme of Euratom (2014-2018) complementing the Horizon 2020 - The Framework Programme for Research ... |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2011)812  |
| date | 30-11-2011 |
The proposed Euratom Research and Training Programme (2014-2018), hereinafter the ‘Euratom Programme’, concerns research activities in nuclear energy (fusion and fission) and radiation protection. The proposal is an integral part of Horizon 2020, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. It determines the overall budget for direct and indirect actions, sets the objectives of R&D activities and specifies the instruments for supporting them.
The proposal takes the form of a single Regulation covering all relevant aspects for the implementation of research activities in the above fields, setting the scientific and technological objectives and laying down appropriate rules for the participation of research organisations, universities and industry. It will cover the fusion energy research and development programme, the fission and radiation protection research activities, and the JRC direct actions in nuclear security and safety.
The proposal will therefore ensure that Union-funded research and training activities in nuclear science and technology are continued over the years 2014-18, thereby maintaining the effective and efficient programmes that currently catalyse and coordinate activities in Member States, in order to maximise Union added value.
By supporting the above priorities, the Euratom Programme (2014-2018) will contribute to the three strategic objectives outlined in the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, namely: excellent science, industrial leadership and societal challenges. . Accordingly, appropriate links and interfaces between the Euratom Programme and the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme will be maintained.
The proposed Euratom Programme is clearly linked to the objectives of the Europe 2020 and Energy 2020 strategies. The programme will contribute to the ‘Innovation Union’ flagship initiative by supporting pre-commercial and policy-relevant research and facilitating technology transfer between academia and industry. By putting emphasis on training in all its activities, boosting competitiveness in the existing 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.
The Euratom Treaty limits the duration of research programmes in the nuclear field to 5 years.[1] The proposed legislation will therefore expire at the end of 2018.
ITER is addressed in a separate Decision, as the funding for this project will be outside the Multiannual Financial Framework, in line with the Communication ‘A Budget for Europe 2020’ (COM(2011)500 of 29.6.2011).
The Euratom Programme (2014-2018) is implemented through a single Regulation, laying down all the necessary provisions for the implementation of nuclear research activities. This new approach is in contrast with the previous programming periods, where the content of the present Regulation used to be covered by four different legislative acts (three Decisions respectively on the Framework Programme, the Specific Programme for indirect actions and the Specific Programme for the JRC direct actions, as well as a Regulation laying down the Rules for the Participation of undertakings, research centres and universities and for the dissemination of research results).
The Regulation equally addresses the objective of simplification by referring to the same participant guarantee fund as in the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme.
Furthermore, the Euratom Programme (2014-2018) puts forward a major simplification of funding rules as well as a revised control strategy, thereby supporting the overall simplification objective.
Contents
The preparation of the Euratom Programme proposal took full account of the responses to an extensive public consultation based on the Green Paper From Challenges to Opportunities: Towards a Common Strategic Framework for Union research and innovation funding. Additional consultations were organised with the objective of discussing the energy challenge in the future research programme with representatives of governments and a wide range of stakeholders from industry, academia and civil society, covering both nuclear and non-nuclear issues. The Commission has also taken into account the results of the discussions that took place in the Council, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee on the proposal for the Euratom Framework Programme for 2012-2013.
The proposal also relies on an in-depth impact assessment, drawing on stakeholder consultations and internal and external evaluations. The assessment found that the challenges of nuclear safety and diminishing nuclear skills in Europe can be tackled effectively by exploiting synergies between the research efforts of Member States and the private sector, and between scientific disciplines and technological sectors. Action at Union-level can strengthen the research and innovation framework in the nuclear field and coordinate Member States’ research efforts thereby avoiding duplication, retaining critical mass in key areas and ensuring that public funding is used to best effect. An Union-level programme can also undertake the high risk and long-term R&D programme in fusion energy, thereby sharing the risk and generating a breadth of scope and economies of scale that could not otherwise be achieved.
The legal basis for this Framework Programme is provided for by Article 7 of the Euratom Treaty.
The budget of the proposal is presented in current prices. The legislative financial statement attached to this proposal sets out the budgetary , human and administrative resource implications.