EAG issues first report on Nuclear Fission
The External Advisory Group (EAG) has published their first report on the key action of "Nuclear Fission" under the Euratom Treaty of the Fifth Framework Programme. Overall EAG concluded that the research and training activities outlined in the working document are fully consistent with the objectives of the key action, as set out in the draft Council Decision adopting a research and training programme (Euratom) in the field of nuclear energy. The EAG met on three occasions up to the end of 1998 to assist the Commission in establishing the content and orientation of the key action of nuclear fission. The formal mandate of the EAG is restricted to the key action. However, because much of the generic research on the radiological sciences is in direct support of the key action, the Group judged that it was appropriate to extend its advice to this area. The EAG noted that the grouping of research and technological development (RTD) activities in the working document did not strictly follow that set out in the draft Council decision. However, this re-grouping did not affect the scope, or the content, of the proposed research activities. EAG also found that several topics within the key action are common to the direct action programme of the Joint Research Centre (JRC). Therefore, EAG stressed the importance of proper coordination of the activities between the two programmes, to avoid duplication and to ensure complementarity. Regarding the strategy for the call for proposals and priorities for 1999, EAG emphasised that all elements of the programme, both key action and generic research, should be implemented at the earliest opportunity. EAG recognised that the scope and content of the calls that could be made in 1999 would be influenced by budgetary considerations. Given the budgetary constraints, they supported an approach whereby one targeted call (to be accompanied by an open call for generic research) would be made in early 1999 covering all topics in the key action. The call would contain two deadlines for submission for different research topics.