(*) Key achievements in the table state to which period they relate to. Some come from the implementation of the predecessor programmes under the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework. This is expected and is due to the multiannual lifecycle of EU programmes and the projects they finance, where results often materialise only after completion of the programmes.
(**) Joint Research Centre
Budget for 2021-2027
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Rationale and design of the programme
The Euratom Research and Training Programme (2021-2025) is a nuclear research and training programme with an emphasis on the continuous improvement of nuclear safety, security and radiation protection. It complements the achievement of Horizon Europe’s objectives, including in the context of the energy transition as well as contributing to the implementation of the European fusion roadmap.
Nuclear research contributes to social well-being and economic prosperity by improving nuclear safety, security and radiation protection. Research and innovation in the nuclear field play a key role in maintaining the highest safety standards and EU competences in the nuclear domain. Radiation protection research leads to improvements in medical technologies as well as in other sectors (such as industry and the environment), from which many citizens benefit. Nuclear research also supports the EU’s efforts in the transition to a climate-neutral energy system.
Public and private research at the national level has a significant role to play in this effort. Euratom’s task is to complement Member States’ contributions by means of an EU-based research and training programme.
The general objective of the Euratom Programme is to pursue nuclear research and training activities, with an emphasis on the continuous improvement of nuclear safety, security and radiation protection, as well as to complement the achievement of Horizon Europe’s objectives inter alia in the context of the energy transition. The programme also focuses on the development of fusion energy – a long term option for large-scale, low-carbon electricity production.
Its European added value is made explicit in the Euratom Treaty and the Commission has an obligation to put forward a research and development programme to complement those in Member States. The justification for Euratom intervention is based on the need to ensure high and uniform levels of nuclear safety in Europe. Moreover, the Treaty also establishes the obligation for Member States to establish provisions on basic safety standards and to monitor the level of radioactivity in the environment on their territory. Through the Joint Research Centre, the Commission provides standards and technical means to ensure that Member States fulfil their obligations properly. The Commission must fulfil its safeguarding obligations, in particular safeguarding the existing radioactive materials in the EU and the obligations assumed under the non-proliferation treaty. Under the Euratom research and training programme, the Joint Research Centre develops methods, standards and techniques and provides scientific and technical support to other Commission departments.
Euratom pursues the following specific objectives:
to improve and support nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radiation protection, safe spent fuel and radioactive waste management and decommissioning, including the safe and secure use of nuclear power and of non-power applications of ionising radiation;
to maintain and further develop expertise and competence in the nuclear field within the EU;
to foster the development of fusion energy as a potential future energy source for electricity production and contribute to the implementation of the European fusion roadmap;
to support the EU policy on continuous improvement of nuclear safety, safeguards and security.
During 2021-2025, the Euratom programme will continue to give top priority to direct and indirect actions for maintaining nuclear expertise and for supporting research for nuclear safety, with particular emphasis on ageing nuclear plants, long-term operation strategies and accident management. The additional safety requirements introduced by the nuclear safety directive require increased efforts in developing an understanding of degradation mechanisms of safety-relevant components and the impact on safety overall. This would support a science-based assessment of the safety margins and allow for timely implementation of safety improvements. The predictive tools and assessment methods developed by the Euratom programme would benefit the periodic safety reviews of existing nuclear installations. They would also help regulators in assessing new designs.
Besides research in nuclear fields, direct actions, implemented by the Joint Research Centre, will also focus on nuclear security and nuclear safeguards by developing techniques and methods aiming at reducing nuclear security risks and supporting nuclear non-proliferation efforts. In addition, the Joint Research Centre will develop nuclear standards and support the implementation of Euratom policies in these areas.
For the development of fusion energy during 2021-2025, the co-funded European partnership in fusion research will build on the progress made by the EUROfusion consortium (2014-2020), providing support for the efficient commencement of the international thermonuclear experimental reactor’s operations and working hand in hand with industry, to increase the efforts on the conceptual design and technologies for a fusion power plant.
The Euratom Programme 2021-2025 is implemented in direct management by the European Commission. The Programme uses the instruments and rules of participation of the Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The Programme provides research grants to labs and universities through competitive calls for proposals and to named beneficiaries. It also provides financing in the form of prizes and procurement. The Programme funds research carried out by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre through direct actions, subject to a separate work programme.
Euratom funded research supports Member States’, safety authorities’ and industry’s efforts to ensure that EU nuclear installations are designed, constructed, operated and decommissioned applying the highest standards of safety, security, radioactive waste management and non-proliferation. For the future nuclear technologies, the programme aims to ensure that they meet the highest safety standards and that safety implications of future deployment are fully understood. Euratom actions provide just incentives for such safety research and the Euratom funding would in no way be able to support major work or the development of new systems and demonstrators. For the development of fusion energy, the Euratom Programme funds implementation of fusion roadmap, a comprehensive research programme to support the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor exploitation and development of design and technologies for fusion power plant.
The 2021-2025 Euratom programme builds on its predecessor, the 2014-2020 Euratom programme. Compared to its predecessor, the new programme has a single set of objectives for both direct and indirect actions, seeking to enhance synergies with Horizon Europe in particular in education and training by opening Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions to nuclear researchers. Under the 2021-2025 programme, most of the research, particularly research and innovation in fusion energy, nuclear materials, radioactive waste management and radiation protection, will be carried out through co-funded European Partnerships. A new generation of co-funded European Partnerships should achieve a greater impact, involving a wide range of research partners. This new approach capitalises on a decade of Commission, Member State and stakeholder efforts in ensuring more sustainable and inclusive research, creating stronger links between EU and national policies.
Programme website:
- Euratom Research and Training Programmehttps://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunit…;
Impact assessment:
- Commission Staff Working Document SWD(2018) 307 finalhttps://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:d17282ba-6a2f-11e8-9…;
Relevant regulation:
Evaluations:
- interim evaluation https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52017DC0697
- Ex-post evaluation of the activities of the Joint Research Centre (2014-2020), ISBN 978-92-76-55600-8
- Interim evaluation of the activities of the Joint Research Centre under Horizon Europe and Euratom (2021-2027), ISBN 978-92-68-07092-5:
Budget
Budget programming (million EUR):
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Financial programming:
+ EUR 7.6 million (+ 1%)
compared to the legal basis*
*Top-ups pursuant to Art. 5 MFF regulation are excluded from financial programming in this comparison, as the legal basis covers only years 2021-2025 the financial programming for this comparison also covers only 2021 - 2025.
In 2023, the Euratom Programme received a EUR 10 million contribution from ITER Programme to provide additional funding for a call for proposals for safety analyses for VVER nuclear fuel manufactured by suppliers outside Russia (call HORIZON-EURATOM-2022-NRT-01-01 with total budget EUR 20 Million Euro). To implement additional funding, the Commission decision C(2023) 6422 provided for the transfer, within Title 01 of the 2023 Commission budget, of EUR 10 million from the budget for the ITER Programme to the Euratom Programme according to the procedure of Article 30(1)(c) of the Financial Regulation (transfer appropriations between chapters within the same title up to a maximum of 10 % of the appropriations for the financial year).
For Euratom indirect actions, appropriations requested for fission research in the context of the draft budget 2025 are necessary to fund a triennial, 2023-2025, call for proposals. This call was open in 2023 and grants will be awarded in 2024. For fusion research, all appropriations proposed for 2025 will be committed to EUROfusion co-funded European Partnership in line with the 2021-2025 financing decision. For both fission and fusion research, 2025 payments appropriations will be used for payments for on-going projects
Budget performance – implementation
Cumulative implementation rate at the end of 2022 (million EUR):
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Voted budget implementation (million EUR)(1):
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The Euratom budget is distributed as follows:
- Indirect actions in fusion research and development
- Indirect actions in nuclear fission (i.e. nuclear safety, radiation protection, waste management)
- Direct Actions undertaken by the Joint Research Centre (JRC)
In fusion energy research, 2021-2025 appropriations, EUR 549 million, were committed in 2021 to the grant for co-funded European Partnership EUROfusion in accordance with the Commission multiannual financing decision (C(2021)4201) and in line with the Article 4(5) of the Council regulation 2021/765 establishing the Programme, which allows budgetary commitments in annual instalments over several years. The payments started in 2021 with prefinacing for EUROfusion and followed in 2022 and 2023 in line with reimbursement requests in the annual reports from the Partnership. Commission signed in 2023, a grant for the preparatory phase of IFMIF-DONES (EUR 1.25 Million), a neutron-irradiation facility for the study of fusion materials and systems under conditions that are similar to those in a fusion power plant.
For grants in nuclear fission research, appropriations for the year 2023 were committed to a triennial call (2023-2025) for proposals launched in March 2023. In accordance with the Commission multiannual financing decision (C(2023)1650) and in line with the Article 4(5) of the Council regulation 2021/765 establishing the Programme, allowing budgetary commitments in annual instalments over several years, this call is funded in instalments from 2023, 2024 and 2025 budgets. Following an evaluation by independent experts, it is expected that grants for more than 20 projects will be signed in 2024, increasing the total number of projects in nuclear research and training under 2021-2025 Programme to more than 50.
The Commission awarded in 2023 a grant for EUR 10 million, to launch an action to carry out necessary safety analyses and tests and establish procedures needed for the licensing of VVER nuclear fuel manufactured by suppliers outside Russia. Additional funding of EUR 10 million provided in 2023 from unspent ITER funds will allow the Commission to launch a second research project in this area in 2024.
In 2024, all appropriations for grants in fission research (i.e. nuclear safety, radiation protection and radioactive waste management) will be committed to 2023-2025 call for proposals. For fusion research, all appropriations are already committed to EUROfusion co-funded European Partnership in line with the 2021-2025 financing decision. For both fission and fusion research, 2024 payments appropriations will be used for payments for on-going projects.
Some Euratom indirect actions from the 2021-2022 call still face delays related to the limited availability of research infrastructures mainly due to supply issues and inflation. Lack of the 3rd party income from associated countries (UK, CH) compounded financial issues of the Euratom programme which resulted from the Council 2021 decision to reduce the 2021-2025 Budget compared to 2014-2020 predecessor. As a consequence, the available funding does not allow to cover all research priorities in nuclear safety, radioactive waste management and radiation protection, as well as in non-power applications of ionizing radiation.
The separate Joint Research Centre 2023-2024 Work Programme for the direct actions was adopted in January 2023 and has been developed based on a new approach grounded in prioritisation and focus on collaboration and core strengths of the JRC for better anticipation, integration and impact on EU policies. The programme has thus been built in portfolios to enhance synergies across scientific and policy domains, in particular between nuclear and non-nuclear research. Amongst the 33 portfolios defined, 3 exclusively address nuclear research in the areas of safety of nuclear technology, Small Modular Reactors and support to nuclear legislation compliance. Other topics such as nuclear security, safeguards, non-proliferation, non-power applications and environmental radiation protection are integrated into 5 mixed portfolios alongside non-nuclear research. The breakdown of activities remains the same with 33% of direct actions dedicated to nuclear safety research (including waste management, decommissioning and environmental radioprotection); 32% to research on nuclear security, safeguards and non-proliferation; 16% to research on standardisation and non-power applications of ionising radiation; 11% to knowledge management, education and training activities; and 8% to support provided to Euratom policies.
Several factors have put a strain on the JRC’s activities under the direct actions. Due to the war in Ukraine and ensuing energy crisis, energy costs (electricity and gas) have increased substantially in all JRC sites in 2022 and in 2023 and, although prices have since stabilised, they have settled at a high level compared to 2021. The resulting inflation has led to higher operational costs associated with security contracts and radio protection expenses. In addition there is a critical need to maintain and renovate the nuclear installations of the Joint Research Centre. This upward trend in costs has been observed across all research centres of the JRC. Against a budget that has not been readjusted, this has put pressure on the JRC’s research activities and required adaptation to maintain the performance under the direct actions.
Contribution to horizontal priorities
Green budgeting
Contribution to green budgeting priorities (million EUR):
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The Euratom 2021-2025 research and training programme contributes to climate mainstreaming, as the programme’s general objective provides for complementing the achievement of Horizon Europe’s objectives, inter alia, in the context of the energy transition. In this context, it is considered that 100% of the expenditure for fusion energy research contributes to the climate effort of the EU budget. Research and innovation in fusion technology are pivotal to advancing the global climate transition. Fusion offers a promising alternative to traditional energy sources by providing stable source of carbon-free electricity and reliable and sustainable power generation. Research activities on fusion, such as supporting the ITER project and its successor DEMO, aim to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. Investment in fusion technology supports the development of reliable, carbon-free energy solutions that can help meet the world’s growing energy demands while minimising environmental impact. By driving advancements in fusion research, we are paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future for generations to come.
- 40% of the fission-research-related expenditure contribute to the climate effort of the EU budget.
Research and innovation in fission technology plays a crucial role in supporting the global climate transition. For instance, the ‘Small modular reactor for a European safe and decarbonised energy mix’ project provides an analysis of the nuclear capacities, small modular reactor deployment and trends of evolution in energy production and consumption for the next decades. This analysis enables to emphasise the role of small modular reactors to deal with these trends and to propose energy scenarios, including small modular reactors providing power, heat and hydrogen at two time frames, 2035 and 2050. The main approaches that underpin these scenarios aim to set the techno-economical frameworks for the analysis of the selected hybrid energy system configurations for a 2035 and 2050 energy mix perspective aligned with the relevant EU and Member State policies. Another example is that small modular reactors offer a scalable and efficient solution for generating low-carbon electricity, providing a reliable source of power with a reduced environmental footprint. By leveraging innovative designs and advanced safety features, small modular reactors offer the potential to significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional fossil fuel-based power plants. Investment in small modular reactor technology accelerates the deployment of clean energy infrastructure, helping to meet the world’s energy needs while combating climate change. Through ongoing research and development, small modular reactors contribute to a sustainable energy future by offering a viable pathway towards decarbonisation and environmental stewardship.
Furthermore, regarding ‘taxonomy relevant expenditures’, this is not relevant for the programme.
Gender
Contribution to gender equality (million EUR) (*):
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| Gender disaggregated information: |
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- Gender equality is a cross-cutting priority in the Euratom programme, as stated in recital 2 of the Council regulation. The integration of the gender dimension into research and innovation content is a requirement by default. Furthermore, the Euratom programme is promoting gender equality through sustainable institutional change by requesting that applicants (public bodies, research organisations and higher education establishments) have in place a gender equality plan as an eligibility criterion for research proposals (requirement shared with Horizon Europe).
- In its 2030 strategy, the Joint Research Centre declares itself as an equal opportunity employer committed to the objective of being fully gender balanced; this has been further developed by issuing a gender balance strategy. In 2022, the Joint Research Centre adopted its human resources pPathways, which started to be implemented in 2023 and notably focused on specific priorities such as promoting geographical diversity and gender balance in recruitment. The Joint Research Centre’s recruitment and communication plans address, specifically for nuclear research, acquiring a skilled work force with a view to improve the gender balance.
Digital
Contribution to the digital transition (million EUR):
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- The Commission puts a strong emphasis on digital transition in the Euratom calls for research proposals. Specific call topics for actions (7 out of 11 topics under the 2023-2025 call, i.e. 64%) in nuclear safety, radiation protection and waste management include requirements, as appropriate, for digitalisation and deployment of artificial intelligence, robotics, the internet of things and big data.
Budget performance – outcomes
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Link to file with complete set of EU core performance indicators
The actions launched and managed in 2023 by the Commission under the Euratom 2021-2025 research and training programme play a pivotal role in maintaining strong European competencies in nuclear research and innovation. This helps ensure the highest standards of safety for existing and future nuclear installations. It is also crucial for developing fusion energy, along with medical and other applications of ionising radiation. The Euratom programme achieved substantial progress in its main areas of research (for both direct and indirect actions), as shown by indicators for peer-reviewed publications (1 158 in 2023), the number of people benefiting from Euratom-funded education, training and access to infrastructure (1 098 in 2023) and mobilisation of investment (EUR 121 million in 2022) from research stakeholders with Euratom funding.
Nonetheless, the Euratom programme has encountered challenges since 2021, with impacts on its performance.
Following the COVID-19 period, delays have been experienced due to limited availability of research infrastructures, influenced by supply chain issues and inflation. The programme has faced a reduction in budget caused by the absence of third-party income from associated countries (such as Switzerland and the United Kingdom) compared with the previous programme. Consequently, the available funding falls short of covering all research priorities in nuclear safety, radioactive waste management, radiation protection and non-power application of ionising radiation.
It has to be pointed out that the cost structure of the Joint Research Centre, with high fixed costs for the operation and compliance of its nuclear research infrastructure, implies that any external factors such as high inflation or energy costs have potential implications on resources, and could affect the ability to achieve the performance targets. Nevertheless, it is expected that in the medium term, the resource optimisation efforts generated by the implementation of the new nuclear strategy inside the Joint Research Centre will compensate for these adverse effects and strengthen the centre’s research capacities to guarantee continuous high performance under the Euratom programme.
- Objective 1: to improve and support nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radiation protection, safe spent fuel and radioactive waste management and decommissioning, including the safe and secure use of nuclear power and of non-power applications of ionising radiation.
The monitoring of the indicators of this objective shows substantial progress in enhancing nuclear safety, security and in radiation protection.
In nuclear fission research, in March 2023 the Commission launched a call for research proposals which made available EUR 132 million for research to increase the EU’s security of energy supply while ensuring the highest standards of safety. The call for proposals offered research grants enabling long-term operation of existing nuclear power plants and deployment of small and modular reactors, along with the development of nuclear materials and the safe management and disposal of radioactive waste. The call also aimed to further develop the EU’s open strategic autonomy in other applications of ionising radiation, including in the medical field, critical raw materials and the circular economy. The call deadline was set in November 2023. Following an evaluation by independent experts, it is expected that grants for more than 20 projects will be signed in 2024, increasing the total number of projects in nuclear research and training under the 2021-2025 programme to more than 50.
The main Euratom call was supplemented in 2023 by a call launched by the European partnership for radiation protection research (https://pianoforte-partnership.eu), aimed at improving knowledge and promoting innovation in the field of radiation protection. Following an evaluation, nine projects were selected in three areas (genesis of radiation-induced cancer, medical diagnostic and therapeutic use of radiation, emergency preparedness), including five projects in medical radiation protection.
In August 2023, the Euratom-funded ‘rocc-n-roll’ project of the European Alliance for Medical Radiation Protection Research presented a strategic research agenda and roadmap for medical application of ionising radiation. The agenda and roadmap aim for better and individualised healthcare to improve patients’ lives (https://roccnroll.euramed.eu/euramed-rocc-n-roll-unveils-sra-and-roadmap), one of the cornerstones of the strategic agenda for medical ionising radiation applications action plan (https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/nuclear-energy/radiological-and-nuclear-technology-health/samira-action-plan_en), Horizon Europe activities and Commission initiatives (Europe’s beating cancer plan (https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/promoting-our-european-way-life/european-health-union/cancer-plan-europe_en) and the ‘Cancer’ mission (https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/eu-mission-cancer_en).
Following an ad hoc call launched in 2022, in 2023 the Commission awarded a grant for EUR 10 million to launch an action to carry out necessary safety analyses and tests and establish procedures needed for the licensing of water-water energy reactor nuclear fuel manufactured by suppliers outside Russia. The ‘Accelerated program for implementation of secure VVER fuel supply’ project will address the issue of security of supply of fuel for Russian-designed water-water energy reactors in the EU and Ukraine. The operation of these reactors currently depends mainly on Russian-produced nuclear fuel. The sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have made it necessary to strengthen the security of supply situation for these reactors. Additional funding provided in 2023 from unspent ITER funds will allow the Commission to launch a second project from this ad hoc call in 2024.
In 2023, the direct actions of the Euratom programme implemented by the Joint Research Centre resulted in the publication of 111 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, while one doctoral thesis was published during the period. The technical outputs delivered include seven sets of reference materials and reference methods, two outputs which contributed to the modification of international standards, five technical systems (all for safeguards) and two scientific datasets and databases.
- Objective 2: to maintain and further develop expertise and competence in the nuclear field within the community.
One of the indicators for this objective surpassed its targets, reflecting the success of the programme in maintaining and developing expertise within the community, contributing to a highly skilled workforce in the nuclear field.
The Joint Research Centre also implements nuclear education and training initiatives which support EU policy priorities and contribute to maintaining and developing the EU’s nuclear competence and expertise. These education and training initiatives include training schools, courses, workshops and lectures in live, online or hybrid formats. In 2023, the Joint Research Centre delivered 13 training courses in the field of nuclear safety, nine in nuclear security, eight in nuclear safeguards, including for 60 safeguards inspectors, one in strategic trade control, 10 in nuclear decommissioning and waste management and 17 in nuclear non-power applications.
In 2023, the direct actions performance has remained consistent in relation to some indicators and caught up with the delays of the first 2 years regarding others. This was, for instance, enabled by the re-opening of Joint Research Centre infrastructures to external researchers or the full resumption of training sessions for participants from Member States and other Commission services.
- Objective 3: to foster the development of fusion energy as a potential future energy source for electricity production and contribute to the implementation of the European fusion roadmap.
The Euratom programme plays a pivotal role in fostering the development of fusion energy in Europe. In 2023, substantial achievements were reached. In 2023, the Euratom co-funded partnership, EUROfusion, successfully achieved the research goals of its third deuterium-tritium experimental campaign at the Joint European Torus device (https://euro-fusion.org/eurofusion-news/dte3-results). The experiments explored fusion processes and control techniques under similar conditions to and in preparation of future fusion power plants. This marks an important leap ahead in our understanding of fusion plasmas. This effort has a pivotal role in the pursuit of a net-zero plan for Europe through the development of fusion as a reliable and sustainable power source. In October 2023, the Commission launched in Granada (Spain) a project for the preparatory phase of the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility – Demo Oriented Neutron Source (https://ifmif-dones.es/), a unique neutron-irradiation facility for the study of fusion materials and systems under conditions that are similar to those in a fusion power plant.
- Objective 4: to support the policy of the EU and its members on continuous improvement of nuclear safety, safeguards and security.
The Joint Research Centre direct actions supported Commission services in the implementation of the relevant directives on nuclear safety, radioactive waste and spent fuel management, and shipment of radioactive waste and spent fuel through expert review and assessment of Member States reports, or through the participation in topical peer reviews.
More specifically, during 2023 the Joint Research Centre contributed to the fourth report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee on Member States implementation of the Council Directive 2006/117/EURATOM on the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste and spent fuel. The Joint Research Centre also participated on behalf of the European Commission in the International Atomic Energy Agency’s ‘Integrated Regulatory Review Service’ and ‘Integrated Review Service for Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management, Decommissioning and Remediation’ missions to Member States.
The Joint Research Centre has provided technical and scientific support to the implementation of the relevant projects under the European Instrument for International Nuclear Safety Cooperation, and the Foreign Policy Instrument.
In policy support to Euratom safeguards, the Joint Research Centre has carried out essential tasks, such as research, development of concepts and approaches for safeguards and non-proliferation, technology, equipment and tools for safeguards verification, measurement of samples and supply of nuclear reference materials, along with education, training and building capacity. As described in the Report from the Commission, Euratom Safeguards Report 2020-2021 (C(2023) 7844 final) published in 2023, the Joint Research Centre performed the analysis of samples in the on-site laboratory at La Hague (France), the in-field analysis of samples taken during physical inventory verification campaigns at selected uranium fuel fabrication plants, along with the destructive analysis of samples taken in nuclear installations and sent to the Joint Research Centre.
Relevant reference materials were also continuously provided by the Joint Research Centre to ensure traceable and credible measurements. These analytical results form a vital part of the safeguards conclusions. The Joint Research Centre further conducted relevant training for 24 Euratom inspectors and front-line officers in 2023 (indicator on track).
SYNERGIES
The Euratom programme seeks and explores synergies with other programmes to maximise collective impact. The strong synergies with the ITER programme amplify the impact of nuclear fusion research. They collectively contribute to the realisation of fusion energy as a viable and sustainable source of energy. Collaboration initiatives with Horizon Europe health activities and Europe’s beating cancer plan or with other areas (e.g. artificial intelligence and robotics) reinforce a commune strategy for tackling wider societal challenges. Strong synergies are implemented with Horizon Europe: Euratom funding was provided to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions, to make researchers in the nuclear field eligible for postdoctoral Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions fellowships, resulting in 13 grants awarded in 2021-2023 for a total amount of EUR 2.35 million.
Sustainable development goals
Contribution to the sustainable development goals
The programme pursues nuclear research and training activities, as well as to complement the achievement of Horizon Europe’s objectives inter alia in the context of the energy transition. In accordance with the EURATOM regulation, no direct contribution of the EURATOM programme to the SDGs has been identified.