Commission proposes nuclear cooperation agreement with Japan
The Commission has recommended that the Council conclude a cooperation agreement on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy between Euratom and Japan, including cooperation in the area of nuclear research. According to a Commission statement, such a cooperation agreement is of particular interest to the EU, as it will be the first to be concluded with a country that is one of the main clients of the European nuclear industry. The overall agreement will run for 30 years, and is designed to provide industry with a stable and predictable framework for the development of nuclear trade between the two parties. Within that framework, a separate agreement is proposed for cooperation in the field of nuclear research and development (R&D), covering an initial ten-year period. Areas for cooperation identified in the agreement include nuclear science and technology, nuclear safety and radiation protection, management of radioactive waste and fuel, and nuclear safeguards. Such cooperation could take the form of exchanges of information and experts, joint seminars, and the development of joint projects and programmes, said the Commission.
Countries
Japan