Parliament approved the fifth research framework programme in relation to nuclear energy. MEPs voted to reduce the proposed overall budget for Euratom, for the 1998/2002 period, from Ecu 1467 million to Ecu 1300 million, on the understanding that these figures can be revised according to the final options chosen for nuclear fusion.
On the nuclear fusion programme, the House approved an amendment from the Greens, asking that further developments should take place only after an independent assessment by an international consultancy to be selected by Council and Parliament. Another amendment seeks to close unsafe nuclear power stations in the former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern Europe as soon as possible.
As regards the allocation of spending, MEPs want Ecu 12.165 million to go on basic research, as against Ecu 11.775 million proposed by the Commission; Ecu 550 million on co-operation with third countries (Commission Ecu 491 million); Ecu 410 million on dissemination of results (Commission Ecu 350 million); and Ecu 1.460 million on training (Commission Ecu 1.402 million).
Parliament also amended the breakdown figures for basic research. Nuala Ahern comments: "We are long overdue a change of vision, especially with regard to fusion. Fusion is a white elephant, on which billions of Ecus have been wasted."