PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION REVISING A RESEARCH PROGRAMME TO BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE FOR THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY AND FOR THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY ( 1984-1987 )

19.2.87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 41/5
II
(Preparatory Acts)
COMMISSION
Proposal for a Council Decision revising a research programme to be implemented by the Joint
Research Centre for the European Atomic Energy Community and for the European Economic
Community (1984-1987)
COM(86) 416 final
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 1 August 1986)
(87/C 41/05)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 7,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Economic Community, and in particular Article 235
thereof (*),
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
presented after consultation, with regard to nuclear
projects, of the Scientific and Technical Committee,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par-
liament,
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and
Social Committee,
Whereas, in the context of the common policy relating
to the field of science and technology, the multiannual
research programme is one of the principal means
whereby the European Atomic Energy Community can
contribute to the safety and development of nuclear
energy and to the acquisition and dissemination of infor-
mation in the nuclear field;
"Whereas Article 2 of the Treaty establishing the
European Economic Community assigns to the
Community inter alia the task of promoting throughout
the Community a harmonious development of economic
activities, a continuous and balanced expansion and
increased stability, whereas the objectives of activities
engaged in by the Community to this end are set out in
Article 3 of the said Treaty;
(') When the Single European Act enters into force, this legal
basis 'Article 235' will have to be replaced by the new Article
130 Q (1) of the EEC Treaty, introduced by the said Act.
Whereas the non-nuclear projects provided for by this
Decision appear necessary for the attainment of these
objectives;
Whereas on 14 January 1974 the Council adopted a
resolution on the coordination of national policies and
the definition of projects of interest to the Community in
the field of science and technology (2);
Whereas the programme was drawn up in accordance
with the Council resolution of 17 December 1970,
concerning the procedures for adopting research and
training programmes (3);
Whereas it is of advantage to define and embody the
common science and technology strategy in multiannual
framework programmes setting out the complete range
of scientific and technical activities being carried out or
due to be carried out on the basis of the Euratom and
EEC Treaties whereas this advantage was confirmed by
the Council in its resolution of 25 July 1983 on
framework programmes for Community research,
development and demonstration activities, and a first
framework programme 1984 to 1987 (4);
Whereas the Joint Research Centre (JRC) should be
fully integrated in the actions of this framework
programme and must continue to play a central role in
the Community's research strategy and to carry out
work of common interest;
Whereas Article 3 of Council Decisions 77/488/EEC,
Euratom (s), 80/317/EEC, Euratom (6) and 84/1/EEC,
Euratom (7), provides for a review of the programme
during its third year,
O O J N o C 7 , 29. 1. 1974, p. 2.
O OJ No L 16, 20. 1. 1971, p. 13.
(4) OJ No C 208, 4. 8. 1983, p. 1.
(*) OJ No L 200, 8. 8. 1977, p. 4.
'(*) OJ No L 72, 18. 3. 1980, p. 11.
O O J N o L 3 , 5. 1. 1984, p. 21.
No C 41/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 19.2.87
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
The research programme 1984-1987, as defined in the
Annex A of Council Decision 84/1/EEC, Euratom, of
22 December 1983 (*) complemented by Council
Decision 85/373/Euratom of 25 July 1985 (2), is
replaced for the year 1987 by a revised programme as set
out in Annex A of the present Decision.
Article 2
In view of the Decisions already adopted by the Council
as part of the budgetary procedure, the expenditure
commitment estimated as necessary for the execution of
the revised programme is increased for the year 1987 by
33 million ECU for expenditures other than those on
staff.
An indicative breakdown of the expenditure commitment
for the revised multiannual programme is given in Annex
B.
Article 3
Before proposing the next multiannual programme of the
JRC, the Commission shall communicate to the Council
and to the European Parliament the conclusions of an
examination of the future role of the JRC, carried out by
a high-level Panel.
O OJ No L 3, 5. 1. 1984, p. 21.
O OJ No L 210, 7. 8. 1985, p. 28.
19.2.87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 41/7
ANNEX A
JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE
RESEARCH PROGRAMME FOR THE YEAR 1987
(last year of the quadriannual programme 1984-1987, revised by the present Decision)
The following modifications are introduced in the programme adopted with the Decisions 84/1/EEC, Euratom
of 22 December 1983 and 85/373/Euratom of 25 July 1985:
RESEARCH ACTION PROGRAMME INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES
Materials and structures: reliability and standards
(Extending the programme 'High-temperature materials')
— high-temperature structural alloys,
— advanced engineering ceramics,
— high-temperature materials data bank and information centre,
— methods for assessment of reliability in materials and structures.
RESEARCH ACTION PROGRAMME FISSION
Reactor safety
— reliability and risk assessment,
— integrity of components and systems in light-water reactors,
— study of abnormal behaviour in core-cooling systems in light-water reactors,
— containment studies,
— source term,
— modelling of accident situations in fast breeder reactors.
RESEARCH ACTION PROGRAMME NON-NUCLEAR ENERGY SOURCES
Reference methods for non-nuclear energy systems
(Replacing the programmes 'Techniques for solar energy tests' and 'Management of energy in dwellings')
— photovoltaic energy systems,
— non-polluting energy systems.
RESEARCH ACTION PROGRAMME ENVIRONMENT
Environmental protection
— environmental chemicals,
— atmospheric pollution,
— water quality,
— chemical waste.
Application of remote-sensing techniques
— land monitoring and management,
— protection of the marine environment,
— agriculture.
Radiation evaluation and monitoring
The other programmes are not modified
The new level of resources for the various programmes is reported in the Annex B.
No C 41/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 2. 87
ANNEX B
REVISED 1984-1987 PROGRAMME OF THE JRC
Indicative breakdown of resources
(Appropriations in miliions of ECU)
>
Programmes
Industrial technologies
— Nuclear measurements and reference ma-
terials
— Materials & structures: reliability & stan-
dards (high-temperature materials)
Total
Fusion
— Fusion technology and safety
Total
Fission
— Reactor safety
— Management of radioactive waste
— Safeguarding and management of fissile
materials
— Nuclear fuels and actinides research
Total
Non-nuclear energy sources
— Reference methods for non-nuclear energy
systems
Total
Environment
— Environmental protection
— Application of remote-sensing techniques
— Industrial hazards
— Radiation evaluation and monitoring
Total
Activities of scientific departments
— Exploitation of the HFR (complementary
programme)
Total
Total programme (1984 to 1987)
Approved programme
Decisions
84/1/EEC —
85/373/Euratom
64
28
92
59
,59
192
49
45
66
352
39
39
49
29
21
99
59
59
700-
Including
Budgetary
Decisions (l)
71,8
35,0
106,8
65,3
65,3
203,2
53,5
49,3
69,8
375,8
41,0
41,0
56,8
33,8
22,1
1,7
114,4
62,1
62,1
765,4
Supplementary
credits for
operations
2,7
2,3
5,0
3,5
3,5
5,3
3,2
2,6
4,0
15,1
1,0
1,0
1,7
0,6
0,1
0,7
3,1
5,1
5,1
32,8
Revised
programme
74,5
37,3
111,8
68,8
68,8
208,5
56,7
51,9
73,8
390,9
42,0
42,0
58,5
34,4
22,2
2,4
117,5
67,2
67,2
798,2
(') As well as the re-allocation of staff as proposed by the programme revision.
19.2 . 87 Official Journa l of the European Communi t ies N o C 4 1 / 9
ANNEX 1
TECHNICAL CONTENT OF THE PROGRAMME IN T H E TRANSITION PERIOD
This Annex describes the manner in which the Joint Research Centre's programmes will be adapted in view
of the transition period. The system of clasifying these activities under five Research Action Programmes
(RAPs) and the complementary programme on the high flux reactor in Petten — as set out in the Council
Decision of December 1983 — will be maintained.
1. Industrial technologies
Further emphasis will be placed on the programmes on nuclear reference materials and reference
measurements and materials and structures, through enlarging the sphere of activity in support of fusion
research and by means of increased activity in the areas of pre-normative research respectively.
The laboratories in the Petten and Ispra establishments will collaborate closely on the materials and
structures programme, and a contribution from the Karlsruhe establishment is anticipated at a later stage. It
is likewise envisaged that the methods for materials development and analysis, originally developed for
nuclear technologies, will be adapted to the area of non-nuclear materials.
Close collaboration will continue between the laboratories in Geel and the BCR.
In this way, the recommendations of various advisory bodies are largely heeded and by means of close
contact with industry at different levels, a proper execution of the programme can be achieved.
1.1. Nuclear reference materials and reference measurements
The revised programme on nuclear reference measurements stresses, in particular, the following activities:
— measurement of standard-neutron data
— determination of the neutron emission cross-sections for use in fusion technology (NET)
— investigations into neutron data for nuclear fission which was described in an OECD priority list, and
the analysis of which is constantly requested by the advisory bodies (CGC, Evaluation Panel).
An important project in the sphere of nuclear metrology is the development of a plastic calorimeter for the
measurement of neutron dose with absorption properties which resemble those of human tissue.
The research project on reference materials is pursuing, and furthermore promoting, a Community
programme for measurement and evaluation of nuclear analytical data on a European level. Moreover,
efforts are being further concentrated on the exact determination of the atomic weight of silicon in
connection with cooperative attempts for a more precise determination of the Avogadro number.
Finally, the activities of the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) will be supported on a wider scale.
The 'LOLERM' project (low-level radioactivity reference materials) is temporarily suspended. A new
approach in this area is, however, being considered in the light of the Chernobyl accident.
1.2. Materials and structures
As far as this programme is concerned, on the one hand the work begun in Petten on the high-temperature
materials alloys and high performance ceramics will be continued, and on the other hand, methods are to
be developed in Ispra by means of which the suitability and lifetime of selected materials for a specific
technical application can be tested.
In order to guarantee an optimal application of these methods, close contact with national and inter-
national research institutions must be sought. The work is aimed at supporting industrial technologies and
contributing towards industrial competitiveness.
N o C 4 1 / 1 0 Official Journa l of the European Communi t ies 1 9 . 2 . 8 7
By their application high-temperature structural alloys are subject to the combined effect of chemical
(corrosive), mechanical and thermal stress. The studies currently being carried out in Petten should
increase understanding of the behaviour of these alloys and of the damage mechanisms to which they are
exposed in industrial use. With improved knowledge and with the aid of appropriate analytical models, a
catalogue of properties can be drawn up to serve as a basis for the selection of materials for design of plant
components, and which makes it possible to forecast their life expectancy and reliability. This project
provides a contribution in particular to the petrochemical and energy-producing industries.
The objectives are similar for the projects dealing with advanced structural ceramics, though in this case
the development will be directed towards new manufacturing technologies.
Methods developed in the JRC-Karlsruhe for nuclear-ceramics will also be applied for material character-
ization, and the analysis of mechanical, thermodynamic and transport properties.
Both projects, on high-temperature alloys, and high-temperature ceramics, will be carried out under multi-
lateral and international collaboration, such as COST (for alloys) IEA (for ceramics), as well as BRITE,
EURAM, VAMAS and EUREKA (for both areas).
A third project concerns the collection, assessment and supply of data on high-temperature materials. The
data bank in Petten will continue operation and be accessible to interested parties from all Community
countries. The services of the Information Centre on High-Temperature Materials can be called upon on a
Europe-wide basis for information.
The transition programme envisages:
— The collection, assessment and distribution of materials data, for industrial requirements, for the
development of norms and for the application of advanced materials.
— The setting-up of a forum for exchange of information and know-how in the area of H T M in Europe,
and for promoting Community activities.
— An analysis of the industrial requirements for norms and standards in the area of advanced and newly
developed materials.
The contribution of the Ispra Establishment to the materials and structures programme will concentrate, in
the present programme situation, on two activities: the development of methods for reliability assessment of
plant components and materials, and the design of a community facility (reaction wall) for testing response
of large and complex structural and mechanical systems under significant static and dynamic loads to
improve design criteria and construction codes,
The reliability analysis concerns, above all, steel structures which are employed in the chemical, the petro-
chemical and energy-producing industries.
Non-destructive test procedures for failure detection will thus be developed and mathematical models will
be designed which will enable forecasts as to the life expectancy of a machine part or a plant component
under given stress factors.
Suggestions as to procedures for standards will be collected, on the one hand by comparing the suitability
of various techniques (acoustic emission, laser-holography, ultra-sonic and thermal techniques and modern
methods for the microstructural analysis and for the examination of physical properties), and on the other
hand by the intercomparison between different laboratories of procedures (round robin tests) and of results '
for the same techniques (benchmark exercises).
In 1987 a survey on new materials will be concluded and evaluated. This survey, in collaboration with
national laboratories and industries, as well as with research programmes such as BRITE, EURAM,
VAMAS, should establish the need for methods for the characterization and reliability assessment of new
materials for advanced technologies (for example aeronautics). The results of the tests allow the necessary
metrological equipment to be made available, or, if possible, the conversion of existing installations.
1 9 . 2 . 8 7 Official Journa l of the European Communi t ies N o C 4 1 / 1 1
The plans for a reaction wall will be accompanied by tasks which relate to the selection of the research
projects and to the fixing of priorities. The continuing study on this facility will be conducted in close
collaboration with national experts, with the aim of designing a true Community facility.
The inclusion of national experts in this project is planned, and moreover, an institutional structure must be
created under the shared-cost actions, for the building and use of such installations.
The contribution of the Ispra and Petten establishments to the materials and structures programme
concerns, above all, the application of scientific and technical methods for the support of national and
international institutes in providing specifications, norms and the definition of standards for assessing the
possibilities for application and the safety of industrial products. These 'prenormative' activities are looked
upon as the pace-setting phase of the standardization procedure. As an example, the work on the
mechanical behaviour of tubular elements contributes to a BRITE project aiming at the up-grading of B.S.,
DIN and other relevant codes.
2. Thermonuclear fusion
As in the past, the Ispra establishment will contribute to the European Fusion Research Programme, but
will orient its contribution more towards problems of safety, which is illustrated by the high priority placed
on the construction and equipping of the tritium laboratory.
In the field of reactor studies, JRC will continue to support the NET-team at Garching on aspects related
to the mechanical configuration, remote maintenance and design of components (plasma facing
components and breeding blanket).
The experimental activity on breeding blanket technology will be focused, as in past years, on the
completion of the data base on 17Li83Pb, the liquid tritium breeder taken as the reference for NET-
studies. Contribution from Ispra and Petten will deal with compatibility problems with steel and tritium
recovery (out-of-pile and in-pile experiments).
The structural materials studies will deal with the measurement of the mechanical properties under
irradiation of low activation Mn-Cr steels. As in the past, the irradiations will be performed in the Ispra
Mc-40 cyclotron and in the Petten HFR. The investigations on thermal fatigue of NET first wall panels
will be undertaken by exploiting a facility now in advanced construction at Ispra.
The risk assessment studies will include theoretical analyses of first wall and blanket accidents (loss-of-
coolant) and of experiments on plasma-wall disruption simulation and 17Li83Pb/water interaction. For
these two experiments a new electron gun and a large scale facility, available by the end of 1986, will be
used. The analysis of the atmospheric diffusion of tritium in the environment will be pursued.
The activities in the tritium laboratory will, in collaboration with contractors from European industry,
concentrate on detailed design. Furthermore, information, which must be presented to the Italian safety
authorities in order to obtain an operating licence, will be made available so that construction can begin
before the end of 1987. The preparation of the activities to be carried out in the laboratory will be
continued. Simulation experiments with hydrogen and deuterium shall be executed, and the tritium rework
technique will be tested.
3. Safety of nuclear fission
In the area of reactor safety research, priorities must be examined in the light of the considerations
resulting from the Chernobyl accident, and, should the need arise, new priorities should be set. Without
prejudging the results of the detailed analysis which has still to take place, it is to be anticipated that
greater attention be paid to the problems concerning severe accidents in which the core melts and to the
limitation of the consequences thereof. Moreover, efforts will be increased in the sphere of development of
probabilistic techniques for risk evaluation. The tasks entrusted to the JRC — collection and assessment of
data on reactor incidents — acquire a special significance in this connection.
On the other hand, activities in the area of sodium thermohydraulics for fast-breeder reactors will be
drawn to a close in the near future.
Research into the safety of the nuclear fuel cycle will, on the whole, be continued with a slight increase in
scope, with the exception of studies into the sub-sea-bed disposal of radioactive waste. A new installation
in Ispra — PERLA — will shortly become operational for the activities concerning the safeguarding of
fissile materials. Work on radioactive waste will be concentrated around a recently completed experimental
facility, (PETRA) to be exploited in association with national laboratories.
l^oC^Bn^ COrrlci^]oLrrn^otdh^Eu^^^ r ^ , ^ . ^
^ 1 . ^ o ^ c ^ r ^ r ^
The programme will includes!^ activities which are^
— reliability and risk assessment,
— integrity o^ components and systems in light^water reactors,
— study o^ abnormal behaviour in core^cooling systems in light^water reactors,
— containment studies,
— source term,
— modelling o^ accident situations in t^ast^breeder reactors.
^ome important elements ^or the transition programme are listed below^
^s tar as the studies into reliability and risk evalutation are concerned, emphasis will be placed on a
systematic analysis o^ the data already stored in the A ^ ^ ^ ^ U ^ data base .Theyea r !987 will see the
compilation o^ guidelines ^or the application ot techniques ^or probabilistic risk^ana^ysis.tn support o^ this
action, several study groups will participate in a community benchmark exercise on severe accident
analysis.
The activities on the evaluation o^ the lit^e^spano^ components otlight^water reactor primary^svstems will
be continued, a s a r e s u l t o ^ which the importance o^ component safety l^ or the prevention o^ accidents will
be better appreciated.
The results o^the LCOr^ l testprogramme on the analysis o^the consequences o^a i lu re in the cooling
system o^light^water reactors will be compared with the forecasts o^ mathematical models which are being
developed ^or large systems under conditions ot coolant loss, and particular transient stress.
l^ew studies on sourceterm problems will be directed by Ispra, carried out i n l 9 8 7 a s c o s t s h a r e d actions.
Morder to analyse the results,the team o^ analysts in Ispra will be reinforced in preparation l^ or an integral
test programme as suggested by one ot^ the member states.
The programme on investigation into austenitic steel will be brought t o a c l o s e i n ! 9 8 7 , a n d a p r o g r a m m e
on concrete t^ or safety containment will be prepared in its place. This will be included in apro^ect on
containment studies to be conducted inclose collaboration with institutions in the member countries.
The sa^etyanalysiso^astbreeder reactors concentrates on severe accidents inwbichlocaland complete
core failure will be considered.
The ^A^Oo ^ d ^ r ^ ^ r^inpile^ proiects will continue in 1987 as originally foreseen, ^ o r k on the
development ot^ European Occident erodes ^ A ^ will be completed, and the analysis ot^ local ^sub
assemble tailurewillbegiven more attention.
The test programmeonsodiumthermohvdraulicswil lbeterminated. moreover, theresearch area liquid
metal ^ast^breeder reactor materials properties and structural behaviour will also be terminated. The present
programme on evaluation o^avibrating table was already brought to an end in 198^.Mthe transition year,
plans will be made tor a reinforcement ot the analytical work atthel^oO^ through a reduction o^the
activities on large thermohydraulic system codes.
The overall work will continue in close collaboration with national research centres, utilities and regulatory
bodies whowi l l bene t i t t r om the results t o b e obtained. The collaborative ettons with industry wil lbe
emphasised by continuation ot^ the shared^cost activities initiated in 198^.
The previous structure ot^ the proiect will be maintained in 1987^ the sphere o^ activity on waste
management and the nuclear Aiel cycle consists o^, along with radiochemical studies and actinide
measurements, the set t ingupo^ the ^ T ^ A installation.The safety aspects o^ storing radioactive waste in
continental geological formations will be examined.
The transitiontowards a n e w p r o g r a m m e w i l l b e p r e p a r e d i n 1987. tnthisrespect ,problemsconcerning
characterisation and duality control are to be considered.
cur ing the course o^ l987 , the r^TIOA installation will begin its^cold^operations.Mthis connection, the
nuclear test phase willcome to anend by the endo^ the year.COneo^theusergroups,established at the
suggestion o^ the competent eo^aS, will schedule the tests to be carried out, ^nd will encourage the
exchange o^int^ormation between interested parties.ThepiOO^^arlsruhewillcollaboratemore actively on
the programme, and will provide contributions to the characterisation o^ waste, and duality control.
19.2.87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 41/13
The cooperation on the project on storage of sub-sea-bed waste disposal will be reduced, and wound up in
1988.
3.3. Safeguards and fissile material management
This programme will further develop techniques and instrumentation for the assay of fissile materials, and
its containment and surveillance in nuclear installations. It will also deal with the processing, transmission
and evaluation of data relevant to safeguards, and will study integrated methods for control of the flow of
fissile materials through the various stages of the nuclear fuel cycle.
The setting up of the calibration and training laboratory PERLA in Ispra, which should be completed in
1987 shall be given priority. Emphasis shall also be placed on the systematic development of integrated
systems for containment and surveillance of the storage of nuclear materials. Finally, special attention will
be given to the development of data bases for accountancy declarations of fissile materials and their
exploitation using decision support systems.
3.4. Nuclear fuels and actinide research
An essential part of the programme carried out in the JRC-Karlsruhe, the contribution to the development
of nuclear fuels, to the safety of the actinide cycle, and to basic actinide research will be continued. In this
respect, and in view of the next multiannual programme, some shift of emphasis is planned:
In the area of analysis of the behaviour at high temperature of reactor materials, greater consideration will
be given to the problem of 'post accident heat removal' (PAHR). The aerosol studies, previously limited to
active particles shall be extended to other nuclear and non-nuclear aerosols such as the application of
purification aerosols. In the area of development of nuclear fuels, the advisory bodies recommend the
inclusion of fast-breeder nuclear fuels in the transient-programme, and to examine more closely the special
problems of nuclear fuels, such as that which arises upon the recycling of plutonium in light-water reactors.
Building on the many years of experience gained in the area of nuclear fuels analysis, certain prospective
studies are to examine the possibilities of laser application for the treatment of materials and for the
preparation of high-purity materials samples (isotopes) as calibration substances for basic research on
actinides (and where possible for nuclear medecine).
As described in points 3.1 and 3.2 the JRC-Karlsruhe shall be more involved in the future in the materials
research programme and the radioactive waste disposal programme.
4. Non-nuclear energies
This programme is to be completely restructured. The programme energy management in habitat and the
testing of solar energy systems will be replaced by a programme on reference methods for non-nuclear
energies, whereby the mission of the JRC for the development of norms and standards will be emphasized.
The new programme encompasses two projects:
The first concerns development and trials of test methods for photovoltaic convenors in the European
Solar Testing Installation (ESTI), in which area the characterization of advanced photovoltaic materials
(amorphous silicon) is moving into the foreground. The second project on non-polluting thermal energy
systems is concerned with the testing of active solar systems and passive solar test methodologies. This is
done in concertation with and coordination of national activities.
5. Environment
As in the past, the programme encompasses protection of the environment; the development and the
application of remote-sensing techniques; the identification of industrial risks and the problems of radiation
protection. In 1987 the publicly accessible ECDIN data bank on substances potentially toxic to the
environment, shall be transferred to the competent service of the Commission, whilst the JRC shall remain
responsible for the supply of data.
5.1. Protection of the environment
The most important developments for 1987 in comparison with the original programme are the inclusion of
an activity on chemical waste, and increased activities on modelling and on the effects of pollution in the
environment on man, and the ecosystem.
In the light of experience during the first three years of the programme it is proposed to reclassify the
ongoing research activities in four categories: 'environmental chemicals', 'atmospheric pollution', 'water
quality' and 'chemical waste', (this last being based on activities previously carried out within the 'industrial
hazards' programme).
No C 41/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 19.2.87
Environmental chemicals and their potential danger will be described and evaluated in ECDIN (Environ-
mental Chemicals Data Information Network). The data, including those on substances in the lists I and II
in the Directive 76/464/EEC, are publicly accessible. Atmospheric pollution in enclosed spaces, and its
effect on human beings gains significance as a research project and is studied within the framework of a
JRC-led COST action. Research on trace metals and their consequences on health and the biosphere will
be continued.
In the context of harmful substances in the atmosphere, acid deposition constitutes one of the foremost
research areas, whilst the analysis of photochemical effects will be considered in more detail with emphasis
on its effect on plants. Mathematical models should prove helpful in gaining a better understanding of the
transport of pollutants in the atmosphere, as well as of the problem of mass balance for which the
Community measurement actions provide field data.
Important contributions are envisaged both to the COST 611 Action (physico-chemical behaviour of
atmospheric pollutants) and to the EUREKA project EUROTRAC.
In the central laboratory for atmospheric pollution further work will be carried out by means of
suggestions for harmonization of analytical techniques, thresholds for sulphur dioxide and suspended par-
ticulates, in accordance with the Council Decision.
Analyses of water quality will be concentrated on the distribution of trace metals and their possible harmful
effects on the environment in hydrous ecological systems.
A further research project (that was previously carried out in the context of harmful industrial substances)
deals with the distribution and possible metamorphosis of harmful chemical waste, its management and its
effect on the environment, in the sense of the Council Decision 78/319/EEC on toxic waste products.
5.2. Radiation measurements and evaluation of risk from radiation
This is a new action which, within the meaning of Chapter III of the Euratom Treaty, and in the light of
the Chernobyl disaster, aims at creating or improving the scientific tools for further Commission activities
in the area of radiation protection. The action may lead to a programme in the next multiannual exercise.
In particular, the following are envisaged:
— examination of the possibilities of collecting all information on environmental characteristics and the
biological effect of radio-nuclides in one data base,
— the analysis of the capability, on a European scale, of mathematical models to calculate the distribution
of radio-nuclides which are released from a nuclear facility (under normal operating conditions, or in
the case of an accident) and to evaluate the resulting collective dose for the population,
— as a complement to the shared-cost programme 'radiation protection', there will be an activity for
gathering and assessing the data obtained from environmental monitoring of the Ispra site. The new
programme will include work on calibration of measurement methods for air sampling, and campaigns
for intercomparison of results.
5.3. Remote sensing
For this programme, 1987 will constitute a transition towards the new projects structure and objectives to
be implemented in the subsequent multiannual programme. The main evolutions will be as follows:
Concerning microwave remote sensing, preparatory studies for a future project on the application of
synthetic aperture radar (SAR) will be undertaken. An important effort will be devoted to the handling and
application of the data obtained from the 1986 AGRISAR campaign.
The current project on coastal transport of sea pollution will be brought to such a stage that a significant
reorientation might be decided at the end of 1987. A method for mapping bio-physical parameters
connected with sea pollution and a mathematical circulation/diffusion model for the description and
prediction of pollution pathways should become available. During the second half of the year, the
prototype of laser-fluorosensor developed for detecting and analysing oil slicks at sea will be ready for
in-field testing. Studies as to whether this technique may be used equally to detect and identify chemical
pollutants at sea will take place, in view of an eventual expansion of the programme in this area.
19.2.87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 41 /15
Concerning marine productivity, the present exploratory activity using test sites in typical upwelling zones
of the Atlantic coast of Morocco will be enlarged with the view of setting-up a specific project in the 1988
to 1991 programme.
In 1987, the action plan common to the Directorate-General for Agriculture, the SOEC and the JRC for
the integration of remote sensing in a European information system for agriculture will be launched. The
initial actions will be executed under contract and concern the development of a land use inventory
methodology and the demonstration of crop yield indicators based on remotely sensed data.
The project on natural disasters, actually limited to a feasibility study, will be discontinued.
Furthermore, the JRC will undertake to specify in detail, together with the Directorates-General
concerned, the actions to be taken to implement the recommendations given in the recent report of the
study group (study group set up by the DG XII-JRC to advise on the development of remote-sensing
applications and led by Mr Roy Gibson), in particular concerning the CORINE Programme and marine
pollution.
5.4. Industrial hazards
The JRC's activities in this area will be carried out in close cooperation with the Directorate-General for
the Environment, Consumer Protection and Nuclear Safety. Since this is an area in which the JRC is
particularly specialized in respect of risk assessment and risk management, it can therefore fall back on its
competences which have been developed for problems in reactor safety.
As a result of the groundwork carried out in 1984 and 1985, and on the basis of discussions with
representatives from industry and the safety authorities, the new JRC Programme will deal with two
aspects of industrial safety: accident prevention, and damage limitation.
The activities on accident prevention include trials of models for risk analysis, which will partly be carried
out in collaboration with other research groups, which should therefore serve in the harmonization of
methods to be used. Furthermore, in this connection, research projects of other institutions (EuReDatA —
European Reliability Databank Association — and ESRA — European Safety and Reliability Association)
shall be coordinated and data obtained in various research programmes shall be exchanged. At the same
time, appropriate activities will be coordinated with those of the shared-cost action on major technological
hazards.
The activities on accident mitigation and control shall concentrate on experimental and theoretical studies
of the so-called runaway reactions, that is, processes which, once out of control, increase the damage effect
rapidly. The studies foreseen encompass kinetic and thermodynamic aspects; the carrying out of modelling
tests, and the analysis of the effectiveness of relief systems.
The project on chemical waste materials, previously dealt with under industrial hazards, will be added to
the environment protection programme in 1987; the development of techniques for non-destructive testing
of materials will be continued under the programme industrial technologies.
6. Exploitation of the high flux reactor
This complementary programme will, in accordance with the plans discussed in the competent committees
and advisory boards, be continued in 1987.
As a result of the reconstruction undertaken between 1984 and 1986, a high-performance, modern instal-
lation, eminently suited to the testing of materials, and as an intensive neutron source, is now available.
The principal areas of application are, as in the past:
— technologically oriented research in the sphere of nuclear fuels development for nuclear fission reactors,
and the analysis of the behaviour of structural materials under stress,
No C 41/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 19.2.87
— material experiments for fusion reactors,
— hard-core physical experiments,
—' application of neutron radiation for the testing of material structures,
— production of radio isotopes for medical, industrial and scientific use,
— activation analysis.
ANNEX 2
Impact on small and medium-sized entreprises (SMEs)
1. The execution of the planned programme for 1987 will have direct and indirect impacts in several ways
on small and medium-sized entreprises, where these are defined to the firms with a staff of less than 100
and 500 persons respectively.
2. The direct impact falls into two categories:
(i) benefits which SMEs derive from the programme execution,
(ii) circumstances where the JRC acts as a customer of SMEs.
The indirect benefits are those which SMEs (alongside other entreprises, national research bodies, regu-
latory bodies, etc.) derive from JRC results reported in the technical literature, at public seminars and
conferences and to national authorities through the regular reporting of JRC work and results and
through the sectorial Advisory Committees for Management and Coordination.
3. With regard to the direct benefits for SMEs, firms in this category are regular users of JRC activities on
the collection, assessment and dissemination of knowledge such as, for example:
— the high-temperature materials data base in Petten,
— the Ispra data base ECDIN, on chemical toxicological substances (now in commercial operation at
an outside firm).
SMEs are users of test facilities in the JRC including the solar test facility in Ispra which also gives rise
to further development of the methods applied.
Likewise, as in the past, in 1987 SMEs will be engaged in collaborative efforts with the JRC
establishments on instrument developments for use in several programmes, development of new
methodologies including information transport and handling techniques (safeguards systems, remote-
sensing techniques, etc). It is characteristic that new scientific disciplines for the use of programmes have
often been developed in collaboration with SMEs (artificial intelligence as an example). Moreover, most
projects on valorization of JRC research results are conducted with SMEs. This will continue in 1987.
A final spin-off from JRC research results has been the stimulation it has given to the setting-up of new
SMEs in the field of high technology. There are particular recent examples of this stemming from the
programme on JRC application of remote sensing from space techniques.
4. The preliminary draft budget for 1987 estimates that of the expenses other than staff some 29 million
ECU will be used for the operations of the general administration and infrastructure.
This amount covers the services necessary for the operations of the four establishments (supplies of
energy, transport, upkeep of buildings and technical installations, general service facilities etc). It is
estimated that around a third of the funds will be spent on contracts with SMEs. A further 12 million
ECU are estimated for scientific-technical support functions of which a substantial share is likewise
foreseen for expenditure on contracts with SMEs. The same applies to the 36 million ECU set aside for
expenditures relevant to execution of the direct programme including the HFR reactor in Petten. In this
connection the greater part of the fabrication of the disposable devices used in irradiations is carried out
by SMEs and considerable recourse is made to local workshops by all the JRC establishments for
construction of scientific equipment, specimen preparation etc.


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