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DRAFT REPORT (COM(2025)0594 – C100217/2025 – 2025/0594(NLE))

On the proposal for a Council regulation on establishing the research and training programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for the period 2028-2032, complementing Horizon Europe, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, and providing for the Community’s contribution to the ITER project, and repealing Regulation (Euratom) 2025/1304

ITRE-PR-786679

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

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The rapporteur's draft report approves the Commission proposal for the Euratom research and training programme 2028-2032, as amended. It raises the budget to EUR 7 806 000 000 and sets shares for ITER, fusion, fission and the JRC. It asks for more funding for nuclear fission research, new fission objectives, and synergies with Horizon Europe. It also wants Parliament consulted at all steps and the programme adopted by the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments add rules on nuclear skills and training, security of research infrastructures, advanced fuels, gender equality and young researchers.

Committee position. The rapporteur strongly supports the programme's general objective and approves the Commission proposal as amended. She proposes a higher budget, more funding for nuclear fission research, new fission objectives, synergies with Horizon Europe, and amendments on skills, infrastructure security and advanced fuels.

Key points

  1. Parliament approves the Commission proposal as amended and calls on the Commission and Council to take account of its amendments.
  2. A new recital says Parliament should be consulted at all relevant steps and that the programme should be adopted by the ordinary legislative procedure.
  3. The programme should pursue synergies with Horizon Europe and other Union programmes through joint and coordinated actions, co-funding and cross-eligible calls for innovative nuclear fission research.
  4. The programme should strengthen the Union's competitiveness, strategic autonomy and decarbonisation, in line with the European Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe.
  5. A new specific objective is added to advance fission research, support cutting-edge European fission technologies, first-of-a-kind small and advanced fission plants, start-ups and the nuclear fission supply chain.
  6. The indicative financial envelope for 2028-2032 is set at EUR 7 806 000 000 in current prices, with 50,7% for ITER, 17,7% for fusion indirect actions, 21,8% for fission indirect actions and 9,8% for JRC direct actions.
  7. Decommitments from the programme or its predecessors are to be re-used in the following financial year and recommitted to the same or another budget line of the programme.
  8. The programme should encourage the involvement of young researchers and prioritise the development and retention of nuclear skills through training, mobility and access to research infrastructures.
  9. The security of nuclear research infrastructures should be a priority in view of geopolitical uncertainty.
  10. The programme should stimulate innovation in nuclear fission, including small and advanced modular reactors, to contribute to carbon neutrality, competitiveness and strategic autonomy.
  11. Euratom advanced nuclear fuel projects should strengthen the security of nuclear fuel supply and reduce dependence on Russian fuel, including for the 19 VVER reactors in operation.
  12. The programme should enhance international cooperation in nuclear science and technology and continue collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the OECD's Nuclear Energy Agency.

Who is affected

  • Nuclear research organisations, industry and start-ups in the Union, which would receive more funding and wider fission research objectives.
  • Students, researchers and professionals in nuclear science, who would benefit from training, mobility and access to research infrastructures.
  • The European Joint Undertaking for ITER, which would receive 50,7% of the programme's financial envelope.
  • The Joint Research Centre, which would receive 9,8% of the financial envelope for direct actions.
  • The Council and the Commission, which are asked to alter the proposal and to notify or consult Parliament again if they depart from the approved text.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 7 806 000 000 in current prices, the indicative financial envelope for 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2032.
  • 50,7% as a contribution to the European Joint Undertaking for ITER.
  • 17,7% for indirect actions in fusion.
  • 21,8% for indirect actions in fission.
  • 9,8% for direct actions by the JRC.
  • 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2032, the period covered by the programme.
  • 19 VVER reactors currently in operation, for which fully European fuel alternatives are not yet widely available.
  • EUR 241 billion in current prices, estimated total investment needs, split between EUR 205 billion for new large-scale reactors and EUR 36 billion for lifetime extensions.

Legal basis: Article 7 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.