Annexes to COM(2025)61 - Interim evaluation of the 2021-2025 Euratom research and training programme - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2025)61 - Interim evaluation of the 2021-2025 Euratom research and training programme. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2025)61 |
| date | February 28, 2025 |
The evaluation clearly shows the EU added value of the programme, namely the joint development of knowledge on various applications of radiation and reducing risks. Subsequent public consultations show that the main added value for researchers includes better sharing of knowledge and best practices across borders, greater cross-border collaboration and mobility, and wider dissemination of results.
9. Coherence and synergies
The Commission aims to increase consistency between the programme and other EU programmes. Internally, DG RTD and the JRC work closely to coordinate the indirect and direct actions, for example, by co-drafting the work programmes. Consistency with ITER and Member States’ fusion strategies is assured by coordination between DG RTD and DG ENER, supported by the Fusion Expert Group9. The programme’s partnerships support Member States in implementing the Euratom Directives on Basic Safety Standards and on Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management. The JRC participates in 47% of the project consortia funded by the Euratom grants, providing expertise and access to specialised research infrastructure. This ensures synergies with research organisations and academia across the nuclear field. Synergies with Horizon Europe include MSCA postdoctoral fellowships for nuclear researchers funded by Euratom. The evaluation indicated that further synergies, in particular in non-power applications of ionising radiation, could be much better harnessed if the budget were increased and joint actions with Horizon Europe were easier to implement.
4. Conclusions
The actions funded by the programme over four years help Member States to work together to develop nuclear technologies, regardless of their national choice as to whether to generate or consume nuclear power. This enables Member States to harness the opportunities offered by the technologies in the interest of all, while reducing the risks associated with ionising radiation. The recent Euratom actions deliver results and provide a supportive framework for developing, sharing and maintaining expertise and skills in nuclear safety and security, the safe management of radioactive waste and radiation protection. They also bring the EU closer to achieving fusion energy. This knowledge will be essential for those Member States that want to pursue nuclear energy as part of their energy mix (whether the technology is domestic or imported), and for those that need reassurance that nuclear power plants in neighbouring countries meet the highest safety standards. The public also stands to benefit from Euratom-funded research on other applications of ionising radiation, in particular in medicine.
The Council’s decision in 2021 to reduce the budget for the programme by 20% limited possibilities to fund excellent research proposals. It also hampered the JRC’s efforts to address the emerging challenges with the necessary flexibility and capacity at a time of renewed interest in nuclear technologies.
This evaluation provided the important findings described below for the Commission proposal for the extension of the Euratom Programme for 2026-2027. These include:
- The programme addressed new challenges such as research on alternative fuel for Russian-designed reactors used in some Member States, increased strategic autonomy in nuclear materials and data, and support for researchers in Ukraine. The results of the call for innovative applications of ionising radiation show a high interest within medicine, the circular economy, space exploration and environmental monitoring, which could be developed further in synergy with Horizon Europe. These new actions attracted newcomers. However, the limited budget, together with the need to maintain the programme’s focus on the core activities of nuclear safety, radioactive waste and radiation protection, means that there will be very limited possibilities to continue funding these new actions in 2026-2027.
- The programme’s implementation relies on Horizon Europe’s rules and measures. The public consultation showed that the programme’s beneficiaries are largely satisfied with the current instruments, practices and support received from the Commission. The Commission will continue to simplify in 2026-2027 while ensuring continuity in the application of the rules.
- The evaluation concluded that maintaining the same programme scope and budget for fission research as for 2021-2025 would provide continuity in research for the safe operation of existing nuclear power plants in Europe and for the safety assessment of new reactor technologies. However, funding for research projects in this area will be highly selective as most of the fission budget will be absorbed by co-funded partnerships. Nor will the present scope and level of funding be sufficient if Europe wants to: (i) catch up with international competitors; (ii) address key issues for the development of SMRs, advanced fuels and fuel cycles; and (iii) substantially increase nuclear skills in the EU.
- The programme should continue to provide funding in 2026-2027 for the co-funded European Partnerships in fission research: PIANOFORTE (radiation protection), EURAD-2 (radioactive waste management) and Connect-NM (nuclear materials). These partnerships are the result of long-term efforts by the research community, stakeholders and Member States to advance on a common research agenda and to address key challenges in all the fields concerned. While scientific progress has already been made, the Commission will push to further improve the organisation and operation of the partnerships to ensure that the research funded by the Euratom programme remains relevant and that it tackles the most pressing challenges. The Commission will pay particular attention to the partnerships so as to systematically consider the long-term perspectives of a broad range of stakeholders and Member States.
- The results of Euratom-funded fusion research are impressive, but they are not sufficient to bring fusion energy to the market in time to support the EU’s decarbonisation efforts and to boost competitiveness. Fusion power will only become a reality if based on accurate assumptions about technical complexity and realistic investment in industrial supply chains. The programme must evolve to remove the technological bottlenecks that require additional focus and investment, involve more private financing and industry experience and increase international collaboration with reliable partners where there is a clear added value for the EU. The Commission has already started to prepare a co-programmed European Partnership in this field which will bring together public and private stakeholders. The 2026-2027 actions will pave the way for this partnership and for supplementary innovation actions. A new partnership of this kind also means rethinking the role and activities of EUROfusion, which will play a major part in developing the fundamentals of fusion science. Further details will be provided in the Communication on the EU fusion strategy, which is currently being drawn up.
- The JRC plays a particular role in the programme. Its four nuclear sites have provided expertise and facilities to half of the Euratom research projects launched since 2021. They also carry out their own highly relevant research, deliver training and produce analyses. This benefits Member States and provides policy support to the Commission on the whole spectrum of activities, from nuclear safety to security and safeguards. The evaluation highlighted the efforts to improve the JRC’s overall efficiency, with the introduction of a new way of working based on portfolios. This has led to better integration of scientific activities. It also noted the implementation of a new nuclear strategy to improve infrastructure management, better cooperate with stakeholders and enhance communication. For 2026-2027, the JRC will continue to address its research challenges on nuclear security and safety, emergency preparedness and strategic energy autonomy, and to contribute to maintaining nuclear expertise in the EU.
1 Article 14(2) of Council Regulation (Euratom) 2021/765 of 10 May 2021 establishing the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for the period 2021-2025 complementing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation and repealing Regulation (Euratom) 2018/1563 (OJ L 167I, 12.5.2021, p. 81).
2 Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials and agents that could potentially harm society through their accidental or deliberate release or dissemination.
3 Euratom grant of EUR 549 million (55% of total costs). For more details see https://euro-fusion.org/ and https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101052200
4 The Joint European Torus, https://euro-fusion.org/devices/jet/
5 https://www.iter.org/
6 https://euro-fusion.org/programme/demo/
7 High-Level Roundtable on Fostering Innovation for Fusion Energy in Europe (14 March 2024) and ‘EU blueprint for fusion energy’ expert meeting (23 April 2024)
8 Series of pressurized water reactor designs originally developed in the Soviet Union, and now Russia. Twenty Russian-designed VVER reactors exist in the EU (Bulgaria, Czechia, Finland, Hungary and Slovakia) and fifteen in Ukraine.
9 Commission expert group on fusion research and development, for more details see https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupId=3929
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