The European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) was set up in 1957 and is legally separate from the European Community (EC).
Euratom research activities differ from those in the other FP7 programmes, and are carried out under a separate treaty. The Member States and the Community institutions are the same under both treaties.
The Commission's amended FP7 proposals include EUR 2 751 million to fund nuclear research and training activities under the Euratom Treaty - to be spent over five years (2007-2011) rather than the seven years of the EC parts of FP7, five years being the maximum allowed by the Euratom Treaty.
In general, FP7 Euratom will address the major issues and challenges in nuclear research and will contribute to the further consolidation of the European Research Area in the nuclear energy sector. It will also support existing Community policies while at the same time responding to new policy requirements. The Euratom Framework Programme will help the creation of a critical mass and new structures in key research fields at the European level as well as to promote the free movement of ideas, knowledge and researchers. In general terms, the Euratom programmes of research aim to develop and assemble knowledge and to improved scientific and technical competences and know-how in support of safety, security, reliability, sustainability and cost-effectiveness of nuclear energy.
In FP7 Euratom there are the two following associated programmes:
- indirect actions in the field of fusion energy and nuclear fission and radiation protection . This is managed by the Directorate General for Research
- direct research actions in the nuclear field undertaken by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), covering nuclear waste management, environmental impact and basic knowledge; nuclear safety; and nuclear security
Further information is available here