EAG gives opinion on nuclear fission
The external advisory group (EAG) to the European Commission, DG XII, has published its first opinion to help to establish the orientation and content of the key action on nuclear fission. Although the formal mandate of the EAG is restricted to the key action, the EAG has also judged it appropriate to extend its advice to generic research in the radiological sciences which are in direct support of the action. The group met on three occasions using a working document prepared by Commission services as the basis of its discussions. It concluded that the research and training activities outlined in the working document are fully consistent with the objectives of the key action on nuclear fission and generic research on radiological sciences, as set out in the draft Council Decision adopting a research and training programme (Euratom) in the field of nuclear energy. The EAG stressed the importance of avoiding duplication in research where activities at the Joint Research Centre had some 'cross-over' with several topics within the key action, such as ageing of materials and components, fuel-cycle safety and studies on irradiated fuels. The approach to objectives and targets was approved as sufficient for defining the scope and intent of the programme, and the EAG suggested that calls for proposals and implementation of the programme should begin at the earliest opportunity. The EAG recommended that operational importance, project lead time and the relative priority expressed for different research areas should be considered when choosing which topics should be included in the first call for proposals for research projects. The opinion also included detailed comments on the programme, including a note of concern that some of the objectives of the working document may be overly-ambitious. The EAG suggested that these should be made more practicable in order to be achievable within the programme constraints.