Euradwaste '08 - EU Bookshop - Europa

The Euratom programme also includes more strategic projects looking at the transfer of technology
between larger and smaller waste management agencies, and whether countries could share waste
management facilities rather than each having to construct the full range of installations. This is
particularly important for Member States with small nuclear programmes, or with unfavourable geology.
The Euratom programme also provides support to basic actinide science, which is important
not only for research on geological disposal, but also in "partitioning and transmutation" and the
fuel cycle in general.
Questions of a technical nature still remain to be answered in all areas radioactive waste management,
and an integrated European research effort is the best guarantee that these can be addressed
both effectively and efficiently. This effort should be clearly focussed on the key identified outstanding
issues and solidly based on the wealth of accumulated scientific knowledge, to which must
be added the results of on-going research in the 6 th and 7 th Framework Programmes. In the case of
geological disposal, the best people to drive this process forward are the national waste management
agencies, since they are ultimately responsible for the implementation of disposal options in
the respective Member States. Technical Safety Organisations and the major research institutes are
also key players, and provide additional expertise ensuring that research and the interpretation of
the results are robust and reflect the state of the art.
Last year saw the launch of the "Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform". This was a pivotal
moment in R&D in the nuclear sector in Europe, bringing together a broad range of stakeholders
in the nuclear research and industrial sectors around a common vision for future research in
the field of nuclear installation safety and advanced nuclear technology, including also the research
in the field of partitioning and transmutation. The Technology Platform is now finalising its draft
"Strategic Research Agenda" for presentation at the General Assembly next month.
The Commission recognises the importance of establishing a similar "Technology Platform" in the
specific field of geological disposal. Not only will this enhance integration of all research players
around a shared vision of geological disposal, it will also enable a much more effective and targeted
use of Euratom funding. The Commission acknowledges the efforts of the Swedish and Finnish
waste management agencies who, with the support of a drafting team made up of experts from a
number of countries, are currently finalising the first draft of the all-important Vision Document.
Indeed, this document will be presented this evening to a meeting of all interested R&D stakeholders,
and represents the first important steps towards the creation of a Technology Platform in
this field.
With such a structure in place, the Euratom Programme can continue to provide invaluable support
to national programmes in their endeavours to implement safe, timely and cost-effective geological
facilities for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and in the management of radioactive
waste in general.
Finally, I would to thank all those in my service in Brussels, and in DG-Energy and Transport and
the Conference service here in Luxembourg, for their hard work and dedication in organising
Euradwaste'08.
I wish you all a constructive and stimulating conference over the next 3 days.
Thank you.
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