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Document 52013AP0468

    European Parliament legislative resolution of 19 November 2013 on the proposal for a Council decision on the adoption of a Supplementary Research Programme for the ITER project (2014-2018) (COM(2011)0931 — C7-0032/2012 — 2011/0460(NLE))

    OJ C 436, 24.11.2016, p. 67–75 (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, HR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)

    24.11.2016   

    EN

    Official Journal of the European Union

    C 436/67

    P7_TA(2013)0468

    Supplementary research programme for the ITER project (2014-2018) *

    European Parliament legislative resolution of 19 November 2013 on the proposal for a Council decision on the adoption of a Supplementary Research Programme for the ITER project (2014-2018) (COM(2011)0931 — C7-0032/2012 — 2011/0460(NLE))

    (Consultation)

    (2016/C 436/23)

    The European Parliament,

    —

    having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2011)0931),

    —

    having regard to Article 7 of the Euratom Treaty,

    —

    having regard to the request for an opinion received from the Council (C7-0032/2012),

    —

    having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

    —

    having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A7-0211/2013),

    A.

    Whereas the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community still does not entitle the European Parliament to be a co-legislator,

    1.

    Gives a favourable opinion on the Commission proposal as amended;

    2.

    Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, in accordance with Article 293(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 106a of the Euratom Treaty;

    3.

    Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

    4.

    Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to substantially amend the Commission proposal;

    5.

    Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and the Commission.

    Amendment 1

    Proposal for a decision

    Recital — 1 (new)

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

     

    (-1)

    The Union's commitment to the Agreement on the Establishment of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organisation for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project  (1) (the ‘ITER Agreement’) is reaffirmed.

    Amendment 2

    Proposal for a decision

    Recital 1

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

    (1)

    The Agreement on the Establishment of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project (hereinafter the ‘ ITER Agreement’) was signed on 21 November 2006 by the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the People's Republic of China, the Republic of India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the United States of America. The ITER Agreement establishes the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization (hereinafter the ‘ITER Organization’), which has full responsibility for constructing, operating, exploiting and de-activating the ITER facilities.

    (1)

    The ITER Agreement was signed on 21 November 2006 by the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the People's Republic of China, the Republic of India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the United States of America. The ITER Agreement establishes the ITER International Fusion Energy Organisation (hereinafter the ‘ITER Organisation’), which has full responsibility for constructing, operating, exploiting and de-activating the ITER facilities.

    Amendment 3

    Proposal for a decision

    Recital 3

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

    (3)

    In the framework of the negotiations to obtain the support of the other ITER parties to fix the site for ITER in Europe, the Agreement between the European Atomic Energy Community and the Government of Japan for the Joint Implementation of the Broader Approach Activities in the Field of Fusion Energy Research was concluded in 2007 setting out complementary joint fusion research activities in the territory of Japan to ensure the rapid start-up of high performance operation of ITER. The Broader Approach activities and other ITER related activities are channelled through the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy. The funding of the Broader Approach activities is mainly ensured by in kind contributions from some members of the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy, while the remaining part of the Euratom contribution is covered by the Euratom budget.

    (3)

    In the framework of the negotiations to obtain the support of the other ITER parties to fix the site for ITER in Europe, the Agreement between the European Atomic Energy Community and the Government of Japan for the Joint Implementation of the Broader Approach Activities in the Field of Fusion Energy Research was concluded in 2007 setting out complementary joint fusion research activities in the territory of Japan to ensure the rapid start-up of high performance operation of ITER. The Broader Approach activities and other ITER related activities are channelled through the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy. The funding of the Broader Approach activities is mainly ensured by in kind contributions from some members of the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy, while the remaining part of the Euratom contribution is covered by the Euratom budget. The 2012 European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA) document entitled ‘Fusion Electricity — Roadmap to the Realisation of Fusion Energy’ (the ‘2012 EFDA fusion roadmap’) identifies the need for the continuous financial support for key projects, and for research and development activities in key domains, until the start date of ITER's functioning, in order to meet the scientific and technological challenges leading to the realisation of fusion energy.

    Amendment 4

    Proposal for a decision

    Recital 5

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

    (5)

    For the period after 2013 the Commission in its communication ‘A Budget for Europe 2020’ proposed to fund the ITER project outside the MFF. Therefore a Supplementary Research Programme for the ITER project should be established for the period of 2014 to 2018 .

    (5)

    The ITER project should consolidate Union leadership in the field of fusion by a timely completion of the stated construction and exploitation goals.

    Amendment 5

    Proposal for a decision

    Recital 6

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

    (6)

    The Supplementary Research Programme for the ITER project should be funded by contributions from the Member States based on a call rate applied to each Member State's Gross National Income (GNI ) as defined for the purpose of calculating the GNI own resource contribution to the General Budget of the European Union. Those contributions shall be made to the General Budget of the European Union, and shall be assigned to that Programme . Third countries which have concluded a cooperation agreement with Euratom in the field of controlled nuclear fusion that associates their respective research programmes with the Euratom programmes should also be able to contribute to that Programme.

    (6)

    Despite cost containment measures which should continue to be implemented, the ITER project may continue to incur cost overruns due to its scientific nature, and to its extensive scale and technological risk. Any cost overruns above the maximum amount laid down in Article 2 should not have any impact on other projects financed by the Union budget in particular those under Heading 1A research budget (Horizon 2020), and should be financed through additional resources over and above the ceilings as appropriate . Third countries which have concluded a cooperation agreement with Euratom in the field of controlled nuclear fusion that associates their respective research programmes with the Euratom programmes should also be able to contribute to the Supplementary Research Programme.

    Amendment 6

    Proposal for a decision

    Recital 7 a (new)

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

     

    (7a)

    The European Parliament and the Council should agree that any postponement or rolling over of unmet payment appropriations relating to the ITER project should be avoided and should commit to working together in order to avoid such a situation.

    Amendment 7

    Proposal for a decision

    Recital 8 a (new)

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

     

    (8a)

    As called for in the priorities proposed in the 2012 EFDA fusion roadmap, the Joint European Torus (JET) project should play a key role in the energy transition.

    Amendment 8

    Proposal for a decision

    Article 2 — paragraph 1

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

    The Programme shall be financed through a maximum contribution of EUR 2,573  million (in current values) according to Article 3 .

    The Programme shall be financed through a maximum contribution of EUR 2,573  million (in current values) over and above the ceilings of the MFF, namely outside Heading 1A, and in addition to the budget for the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, the Euratom Framework Programme or other Union programmes, while maintaining the full powers of the European Parliament and the Council. Therefore, the funding for the Programme should have sufficient financial resources to enable the Union to implement the Programme while also setting in the MFF a ring-fenced maximum amount for contributions from the Union budget for the years 2014-2018. Any cost overruns above this maximum amount shall not have any impact on the budgetary allocations for other projects and shall be financed through additional resources over and above the ceilings as appropriate .

    Amendment 9

    Proposal for a decision

    Article 3

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

    The Programme shall be funded by contributions of the Member States, based on a call rate applied to each Member State's Gross National Income (GNI) as defined for the purposes of calculating GNI own resource contribution to the General Budget of the European Union. Those contributions shall be considered as external assigned revenue for the Programme in accordance with [Article XX of Regulation (EU) No XX/2012 of the European Parliament and the Council [New Financial Regulation].

    The Programme shall be funded through the Union's own resources.

    Amendment 10

    Proposal for a decision

    Article 4 — paragraph 1

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

    Third countries which have concluded a cooperation agreement with Euratom in the field of controlled nuclear fusion that associates their respective research programmes with the Euratom programmes (hereinafter ‘associated countries’) may also contribute to the Programme.

    Third countries which have concluded a cooperation agreement with Euratom in the field of controlled nuclear fusion that associates their respective research programmes with the Euratom programmes (hereinafter ‘associated countries’) may contribute to the Programme.

    Amendment 11

    Proposal for a decision

    Article 5 — paragraph 2 a (new)

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

     

    The Commission shall submit a mid-term review of the progress of the Programme to the European Parliament and the Council for their opinion before 30 June 2016.

    Amendment 12

    Proposal for a decision

    Article 6 — paragraph 1

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

    1.   The Commission shall take appropriate measures ensuring that, when actions financed under this Decision are implemented, the financial interests of the Union are protected by the application of preventive measures against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities, by effective checks and, where irregularities are detected, by the recovery of the amounts wrongly paid and, where appropriate, by effective, proportionate and deterrent penalties.

    1.   The Commission shall take appropriate measures ensuring that, when actions financed under this Decision are implemented, the financial interests of the Union are protected by the application of preventive measures against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities, by effective checks and, where irregularities or errors are detected, by the recovery of the amounts wrongly paid and, where appropriate, by effective, proportionate and deterrent penalties. The Commission shall also put in place appropriate measures ensuring adequate risk control and the avoidance of cost overruns.

    Amendment 13

    Proposal for a decision

    Article 6 — paragraph 2

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

    2.    The Commission or its representatives and the Court of Auditors shall have the power of audit, on the basis of documents and on-the-spot checks and inspections, over all grant beneficiaries, contractors, subcontractors and other third parties who have received Union funds under this Decision.

    2.    The European Parliament, the Commission or its representatives and the Court of Auditors shall have the power of audit, on the basis of documents and on-the-spot checks and inspections, over all grant beneficiaries, contractors, subcontractors and other third parties who have received Union funds under this Decision. Given the magnitude and the past considerable shortcomings of the ITER project, close scrutiny by the European Parliament will be required in its capacity as budgetary authority and discharge authority, and the Commission shall inform the European Parliament of the development of the Programme, in particular in terms of costs and schedule, on a regular basis.

    Amendment 14

    Proposal for a decision

    Article 6 — paragraph 2 — subparagraph 3

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

    Without prejudice to the first and second subparagraphs, cooperation agreements with third countries and international organisations, grant agreements, grant decisions and contracts resulting from the implementation of this Decision shall expressly empower the Commission, the Court of Auditors and the OLAF to conduct audits, on-the-spot checks and inspections.

    Without prejudice to the first and second subparagraphs, cooperation agreements with third countries and international organisations, grant agreements, grant decisions and contracts resulting from the implementation of this Decision shall expressly empower the Commission, the Court of Auditors and the OLAF to conduct audits, on-the-spot checks and inspections. The results of such audits, on-the-spot checks and inspections shall be forwarded to the European Parliament.

    Amendment 15

    Proposal for a decision

    Annex — Scientific and technological objective — paragraph 2

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

    The first priority of the strategy to achieve the objective shall be the construction of ITER (a major experimental facility which demonstrates the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power), followed by the construction of a demonstration fusion power plant.

    The first priority of the strategy to achieve the objective shall be the construction of ITER (a major experimental facility which demonstrates the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power), followed by the construction of a demonstration fusion power plant. The priorities proposed in the 2012 EFDA fusion roadmap should be taken into account in order to ensure that ITER will play a key role in the energy transition.

    Amendment 16

    Proposal for a decision

    Annex — Scientific and technological Objective — paragraph 2 a (new)

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

     

    The demonstration of competitive electricity production by 2050 must be ensured. In response to that target, the Commission shall review the Programme regularly and produce a progress report on an annual basis in response to physics, technological, budgetary and safety challenges. In its report, the Commission must provide an analysis of potential impacts on the three main phases, in addition to a contingency plan specifying the priorities according to the benefits, risks and costs to achieve the commercial fusion objectives. The Commission must consider implementing an early warning system to identify risks and to accelerate the mitigation process.

    Amendment 17

    Proposal for a decision

    Annex — Rationale — paragraph 1

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

    Fusion has the potential to make a major contribution to the realisation of a sustainable and secure energy supply for the Union a few decades from now. Its successful development would provide energy which is safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly.

    Fusion has the potential to make a major contribution to the realisation of a sustainable and secure energy supply for the Union a few decades from now. Its successful development would provide energy which is safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly. Harnessing fusion energy is a very promising goal but also a significant challenge, as there are still remaining physics and engineering issues in order to make progress in demonstrating the feasibility of fusion energy. In order to best meet some of these challenges, it is essential that the Union makes every effort to support and exploit the efforts of the JET facility in order to help bridge any knowledge or experience gap.

    Amendment 18

    Proposal for a decision

    Annex — Activities — paragraph 2 — point a

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

    (a)

    To provide the Euratom contribution to the ITER International Fusion Energy Organisation, including those R&D activities necessary for developing the basis for the procurement of the ITER components and the procurement of the ITER Test Blanket Modules;

    (a)

    To provide the Euratom contribution to the ITER International Fusion Energy Organisation, including those R&D activities necessary for developing the basis for the procurement of the ITER components and the procurement of the ITER Test Blanket Modules and to suggest potential improvements in the governance of the Programme.

    Amendment 19

    Proposal for a decision

    Annex — Activities — paragraph 2 — point c

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

    (c)

    As appropriate, other activities in order to prepare the basis for the design of a demonstration reactor and related facilities.

    (c)

    As appropriate, other activities in order to prepare the basis for the design of a demonstration reactor and related facilities , mainly those required to properly solve the remaining issues concerning DEMO construction and operation . This will include ensuring the continuance of the JET exploitation until the start date of ITER's full functioning. Standard solutions must be promoted in order to be reused as far as possible when building commercial power plants.

    Amendment 20

    Proposal for a decision

    Annex — Activities — paragraph 2 — point c a (new)

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

     

    (ca)

    To implement an industrial policy suitable for involving industry, including small and medium-sized enterprises, in order to foster competition and to prepare the European system for the fusion era.

    Amendment 21

    Proposal for a decision

    Annex — Activities — paragraph 2 — point c b (new)

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

     

    (cb)

    To involve industry, including specialised small and medium-sized enterprises, as widely and as early as possible in order to develop and to validate standard reliable solutions and equipment. This will be helpful in achieving the Programme within the budget.

    Amendment 22

    Proposal for a decision

    Annex — Activities — paragraph 2 — point c c (new)

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

     

    (cc)

    To promote the availability of a skilled and experienced workforce and scientists as a key to the success of fusion. The ramping-up of ITER should be associated with specific measures in support of training and education in fusion science and technology.

    Amendment 23

    Proposal for a decision

    Annex — Activities — paragraph 2 — point c d (new)

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

     

    (cd)

    To develop a communication programme for Union citizens to keep them fully informed of and consulted about nuclear fusion challenges, risks and safety.

    Amendment 24

    Proposal for a decision

    Annex — Activities — paragraph 4

    Text proposed by the Commission

    Amendment

    The detailed work programmes implementing the above activities will be decided, on an annual basis, by the Fusion for Energy Governing Board.

    The detailed work programmes implementing the above activities will be decided and communicated to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on an annual basis, by the Fusion for Energy Governing Board.

    (1)   OJ L 358, 16.12.2006, p. 62

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