12. 8. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 222/5 COUNCIL DECISION of 25 July 1988 adopting a multiannual research and training programme in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion (88/448/Euratom) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular- Article 7 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (!) submitted after consultation of the Scientific and Technical Committee, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3) Whereas the energy problem is common to all the Member States; whereas joint efforts to resolve this problem are likely to produce better results; whereas thermonuclear fusion is one possible solution to the energy problem in the longer term; whereas the rational use of all the different energy sources must be coordinated; whereas the Community must therefore continue to ensure optimum consistency in its efforts between Community activities in the various sectors of energy and energy research; Whereas, by Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC the Council adopted the framework programme for Community activities in the field of research and technological development (1987 to 1991) (4), which takes into account all the foregoing considerations; Whereas thermonuclear fusion is a potential new source of energy using fuel which is virtually inexhaustible and universally accessible; whereas nuclear fusion is potentially a safe and environmentally benign energy source in a number of respects; whereas one of the principal objectives of the framework programme is to achieve controlled thermonuclear fusion and realize this potential in the process; Whereas, in its Decision 85/201/Euratom (), the Council adopted a research and training programme in the field of (*) O] No C 247, 15. 9. 1987, as amended by O] No C 103, 19. 4. 1988, p. 9. : (2) O] No C 94, 11. 4. 1988, p. 139. (3) OJ No C 80, 28. 3. 1988, p. 32. () OJ No L 302, 24. 10. 1987, p. 1. (*)) O] No L 83, 28. 3. 1985, p. 25. controlied thermonuclear fusion (1985 to 1989); whereas Article 3 of that Decision provides that the Commission will, based on a review te be carried out during the second year of that programme, submit to the Council in 1987 a proposal for revision aimed at replacing the 1985 to 1989 programme “with a new programme; whereas Decision 85/201/Euratom should therefore be replaced; Whereas, as a result of Decision 85/201/Euratom being replaced, approximately 30 million ECU of the sum estimated necessary for the preceding programme, exclusive of the JET (Joint European Torus) project set up under Decision 78/471/Euratom (¢) as last amended by Decision 88/447/Euratom (7) and approximately 154 million ECU of the sum estimated necessary for the preceding programme for the JET project will not have been used; whereas these amounts can be assigned to the new programme; whereas such assignment, together with the fact that the programme embraces all work carried out in the Member States in this field, must be taken into account in determining the amounts estimated necessary for the execution of the new programme; Whereas, in view of the extent of the effort needed to reach the stage of application of controlled thermonuclear fusion, which could be of benefit to the Community, the work hitherto undertaken in this field must continue on a joint basis at its various stages of development; Whereas the research proposed by the Commission constitutes an adequate means of pursuing such actions and it is, consequently, in the common interest to adopt a multiannual programme in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion, the existence of which is, moreover, necessary to enable the Community to participate in international cooperation in this field and in particular in thé quadripartite International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) conceptual design activities; Whereas the strategy on which the continuation of the programme is based should remain largely unchanged, namely: (¢) OJ No L 151,7. 6. 1978, p. 10. (7} See page 4 of this Official Journal.