More details of the European Commission’s plan for a new and Sixth Framework Research Programme have been released. The Commission has proposed a global research pot of ¤17.5 billion for the programme, out of which a new independent nuclear studies budget would receive ¤900 million.
If the plan is approved by the EU Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, this would be used for research into nuclear fission and fusion “centring around the treatment and storage of nuclear waste as well as reactor safety.” Work would be carried out from next year to 2006.
Brussels also wants to create a ¤330 million nuclear research budget for the EU’s Joint Research Centre. Priorities for these JRC studies would include the treatment and storage of nuclear waste, training of inspectors, reactor safety, nuclear medicine and radiation monitoring.
