The Commission welcomes the Council's ITER agreement

Brussels, 26 November 2003

European Commissioner for Research Philippe Busquin welcomed the unanimous agreement obtained in the Council of Ministers today on the EU's application to site the ITER thermonuclear fusion reactor project at Cadarache (France).

"I am delighted at the Council's unanimous desire to develop nuclear fusion in Europe and to propose a single, strong application for the siting of the ITER project", he declared; "this will enable man to master solar processes on earth. Today, the sun has risen over Europe".

The Council's unanimous agreement brings to fruition a process of intense analysis and consultation by the Council Presidency and the Commission following the Commission's communication of 28 April 2003.

The Commission will now put the EU's application to the international partners in the ITER project for an international decision to be reached before the end of the year.

DN: IP/03/1611 Date: 26/11/2003