ITER (International nuclear fusion energy research project) (Extract from Background on the Competitiveness Council of 13 May)

Brussels, 08 May 2003

Over lunch, Ministers will discuss the ITER international nuclear fusion energy research project in the light of the Commission's communication on the state of progress of the negotiations concerning this issue ( COM(2003) 215 final).

On last 29 April, the Commission submitted the above mentioned communication to the Council. Pending the Community's final agreement on the realisation of ITER, which is subject to a Council Decision on a forthcoming Commission proposal covering all aspects of the project, discussions in the Council bodies so far focussed on the issue of hosting ITER in Europe. The final Commission report on this issue being provided as soon as possible, the Council may achieve agreement on the European candidate site in September 2003.

By now, an overwhelming majority of delegations could agree to the Commission's suggestion that European efforts should concentrate on supporting a single candidate site in the international negotiations on the location of ITER, where four candidate sites have been proposed, i.e. Cadarache (France), Clarington (Canada), Rokkasho (Japan) and Vandellos (Spain).

Press Release: Brussels (8/5/2003)