The European Parliament adopted by 524 votes to 91, with 64 abstentions, in the context of a special legislative procedure (European Parliament consultation), a legislative resolution Committee on the proposal for a Council decision on the adoption of a Supplementary Research Programme for the ITER project (2014-2018).

Parliament gave a favourable opinion on the Commission proposal subject to amendments:

Financing : Parliament considered that the Programme should be funded through the Union's own resources as opposed to Member State contributions as proposed by the Commission.

Members called for the Programme to be financed through a maximum contribution of EUR 2 573 000 000 (in current values) over and above the ceilings of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), namely outside Heading 1A, and in addition to the budget for the Horizon 2020 programme, the EURATOM framework programme or other Union programmes, while maintaining the full powers of both arms of the budgetary authority.

Parliament proposed that the MFF regulation should set a ring-fenced maximum amount for contributions from the Union budget for the years 2014-2018 . Any cost overruns above this maximum amount shall not have any impact on the budgetary allocations for other projects and shall be financed through additional resources over and above the ceilings as appropriate.

Protection of EU financial interests : Parliament called on the Commission to put in place appropriate measures ensuring adequate risk control and the avoidance of cost overruns.

Given the magnitude and the past considerable shortcomings of the ITER project close scrutiny by the European Parliament will be required in its capacity as budgetary authority and discharge authority, and the Commission shall inform the European Parliament of the development of the Programme, in particular in terms of costs and schedule, on a regular basis.

The results of such audits, on-the-spot checks and inspections shall be forwarded to the European Parliament.

Scientific and technical objective : the resolution stated that the priorities proposed in the 2012 EFDA (European Fusion Development Agreement) should be taken into account in order to ensure that ITER will play a key role in the energy transition.

The demonstration of competitive electricity production by 2050 must be ensured . In response to that target, Parliament called on the Commission to review the Programme regularly and produce a progress report on an annual basis in response to physics, technological, budgetary and safety challenges.

Harnessing fusion energy is a significant challenge and in order to best meet some of this challenge, it is essential that the Union makes every effort to support and exploit the efforts of the Joint European Taurus (JET) facility in order to help bridge any knowledge or experience gap.

Implementation : the Commission shall submit a mid-term review of the progress of the Programme to the European Parliament and the Council for their opinion before 30 June 2016.

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the report by Vladimir REMEK (GUE/NGL, CZ) on the proposal for a Council decision on the adoption of a Supplementary Research Programme for the ITER project (2014-2018).

The committee gives a favourable opinion on the Commission proposal as amended:

Financing : Members consider that the Programme should be funded through the Union's own resources as opposed to Member State contributions as proposed by the Commission.

According to the committee, the Programme shall be financed through a maximum contribution of EUR 2 573 000 000 (in current values) over and above the ceilings of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), namely outside Heading 1A, and in addition to the budget for the Horizon 2020 programme, the EURATOM framework programme or other Union programmes, while maintaining the full powers of both arms of the budgetary authority.

The report proposes that the MFF regulation should set a ring-fenced maximum amount for contributions from the Union budget for the years 2014-2018 . Any cost overruns above this maximum amount shall not have any impact on the budgetary allocations for other projects and shall be financed through additional resources over and above the ceilings as appropriate.

Protection of EU financial interests : Members calls on the Commission to put in place appropriate measures ensuring adequate risk control and the avoidance of cost overruns.

Given the magnitude and the past considerable shortcomings of the ITER project close scrutiny by the European Parliament will be required in its capacity as budgetary authority and discharge authority, and the Commission shall inform the European Parliament of the development of the Programme, in particular in terms of costs and schedule, on a regular basis.

The results of such audits, on-the-spot checks and inspections shall be forwarded to the European Parliament.

Scientific and technical objective : the report states that the priorities proposed in the 2012 EFDA (European Fusion Development Agreement) should be taken into account in order to ensure that ITER will play a key role in the energy transition.

The demonstration of competitive electricity production by 2050 must be ensured . In response to that target, the Commission shall review the Programme regularly and produce a progress report on an annual basis in response to physics, technological, budgetary and safety challenges.

Harnessing fusion energy is a significant challenge and in order to best meet some of this challenge, it is essential that the Union makes every effort to support and exploit the efforts of the Joint European Taurus (JET) facility in order to help bridge any knowledge or experience gap.

Implementation : the Commission shall submit a mid-term review of the progress of the Programme to the European Parliament and the Council for their opinion before 30 June 2016.

PURPOSE: to adopt a Supplementary Research Programme for the ITER project (2014-2018).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: the Agreement on the Establishment of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project was signed on 21 November 2006 by the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the People's Republic of China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States of America. The ITER Agreement establishes the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization, which has full responsibility for constructing, operating, exploiting and de-activating the ITER facilities.

The ITER Agreement requires all parties to provide contributions to the ITER Organization through appropriate legal entities referred to as "Domestic Agencies".

The estimated costs for ITER construction increased compared to the initial estimates of 2001 . In its conclusions of 12 July 2010 on ITER status and possible way forward, the Council of the European Union limited the European contribution to the ITER construction phase to an amount of EUR 6.6 billion in 2008 value . According to those conclusions, the European contribution is funded by Euratom (80%) and by France (20%) and includes construction costs, running costs and contingencies. As a result of those conclusions, the Commission proposed to amend the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management as regards the multiannual framework (MFF) for the period 2007-2013 to provide additional funds for ITER for the period of 2012-2013.

For the period after 2013 the Commission in its communication “ A Budget for Europe 2020 ” proposed to fund the ITER project outside the MFF . Therefore a Supplementary Research Programme for the ITER project should be established for the period of 2014 to 2018.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: t his proposal takes full account of the responses to a.

On the basis of the Communication of 29 June 2011, s everal options for the modalities of funding the ITER project outside the MFF have been examined. The creation of a Supplementary Research Programme funded with contributions from Member States will provide continuity for the project, in particular vis-à-vis our international partners. It will also avoid a renegotiation process to modify the ITER Agreement, a complex process surrounded by uncertainties.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 7 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.

CONTENT: t he proposed Supplementary Research Programme covers the contributions to the construction of the ITER facility, procurement of equipment and installations and general technical and administrative support for the project during construction, and participation in commissioning and initial operation, as well as other ITER related activities, such as those under the Broader Approach Agreement.

Euratom will continue to participate in the governance , management and staffing of the ITER Organization and Fusion for Energy in accordance with the provisions of the agreement establishing the ITER Organization and the Council Decision establishing Fusion for Energy.

The Supplementary Research Programme for the ITER project should be funded by contributions from the Member States based on a call rate applied to each Member State's Gross National Income (GNI) as defined for the purpose of calculating the GNI own resource contribution to the General Budget of the European Union. Those contributions shall be made to the General Budget of the European Union, and shall be assigned to that Programme .

Third countries which have concluded a cooperation agreement with Euratom in the field of controlled nuclear fusion that associates their respective research programmes with the Euratom programmes should also be able to contribute to that Programme.

The financial interests of the Union should be protected through proportionate measures throughout the expenditure cycle, including the prevention, detection and investigation of irregularities, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, penalties.

The scientific and technical content of ITER activities are unchanged in this Supplementary Research Programme.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the Programme shall be financed through a maximum contribution of EUR 2.573 billion (in current values).