Sittings · Document

REPORT (COM(2025)0598 – C100262/2025 – 2025/0265(CNS)) 2026-07-06

On the proposal for a Council regulation establishing the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation and Decommissioning for the period 2028-2034 and repealing Regulations (Euratom) 2021/100 and (Euratom) 2021/948

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy · Rapporteur: Sophie Wilmès

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Parliament's amended version of a proposed Council regulation sets up the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation and Decommissioning for 2028-2034, replacing two Euratom regulations. It merges external nuclear safety cooperation with partner countries and internal decommissioning of the Commission's Joint Research Centre nuclear sites into one instrument. The external component promotes nuclear safety, radiation protection, safe spent fuel and radioactive waste management and safeguards in partner countries, and supports Ukraine. The internal component funds decommissioning and waste management at JRC sites in Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. The programme envelope is set at EUR 966 000 000 in current prices (EUR 853 942 000 in 2025 prices), with additional resources possible for Ukraine. The regulation applies from 1 January 2028 and repeals Regulations (Euratom) 2021/100 and (Euratom) 2021/948.

Committee position. The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy approves the Commission proposal as amended. It calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, on the Council to notify Parliament if it departs from the approved text, and to consult Parliament again if it substantially amends the proposal.

Key points

  1. The regulation establishes the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation and Decommissioning for 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034, with an external and an internal component.
  2. The external component aims to promote high nuclear safety, radiation protection, safe spent fuel and radioactive waste management, decommissioning and effective safeguards in partner countries.
  3. The internal component supports decommissioning of the Commission's nuclear installations at JRC sites and safe management of the associated spent fuel, nuclear material and radioactive waste.
  4. The programme envelope is EUR 966 000 000 in current prices (EUR 853 942 000 in 2025 prices); additional resources for Ukraine may be mobilised from the Ukraine Reserve.
  5. The Commission must adopt a comprehensive strategy for international nuclear safety cooperation by the end of 2027, identifying areas of greatest added value and setting objectives and tools.
  6. Cooperation with partner countries requires a common understanding or reciprocal agreement, and for safeguards, parties must be to the Non-Proliferation Treaty with a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement or Additional Protocol in force.
  7. For nuclear safety cooperation, partner countries must be active parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Joint Convention on spent fuel and radioactive waste management, or show firm commitment to accede.
  8. The Commission must ensure transparency on fund allocation and nuclear safety measures, and regularly inform the European Parliament; third countries must make relevant information public, especially for local populations near nuclear installations.
  9. The Commission must coordinate with third countries and international organisations, in particular the IAEA and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, to avoid duplication.
  10. Union funding must not support the licensing of non-European technologies; support for emerging fields is limited to safety-related aspects, including regulatory capacity, licensing of European technologies, emergency preparedness and waste management.
  11. The Commission and the JRC must develop innovative legal and financial instruments to address long-term uncertainties of transferring waste management to host Member States; negotiations start within two years of entry into force.
  12. The regulation repeals Regulations (Euratom) 2021/100 and (Euratom) 2021/948 from 1 January 2028, with transitional provisions for ongoing actions.

Who is affected

  • Partner countries receiving nuclear safety cooperation, which must meet criteria on non-proliferation, safety conventions and transparency.
  • Ukraine, for which support is prioritised and additional resources may be mobilised from the Ukraine Reserve.
  • The Commission and the Joint Research Centre, responsible for decommissioning nuclear installations at JRC sites in Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
  • Host Member States of JRC sites, which may bilaterally agree to take over nuclear liabilities on a voluntary basis.
  • Entities receiving Union funds, which must cooperate in protecting the Union's financial interests and grant access to the Commission, OLAF, EPPO and the Court of Auditors.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 966 000 000 in current prices (EUR 853 942 000 in 2025 prices) — programme envelope for 2028-2034.
  • 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2034 — period of the Instrument.
  • 1 January 2028 — date of application and repeal of Regulations (Euratom) 2021/100 and (Euratom) 2021/948.
  • EUR 10 million — threshold below which the examination procedure is not required for special measures and support measures.
  • 20% — maximum increase of the budget of action plans and measures allowed without the examination procedure.
  • 2% — fixed deflator used to calculate current prices.
  • End of 2027 — deadline for the Commission to adopt the comprehensive strategy for international nuclear safety cooperation.
  • Two years from entry into force — deadline for negotiations between the Commission and host Member States on transferring nuclear liabilities.

Legal basis: Article 203 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.

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