101 UK Brexit Notes

Connemara Programme October 16 2018 pg. 108 Project Funding: Nuclear Research Purpose This notice explains how civil nuclear research that the UK already undertakes with the EU will be affected in the unlikely event that the UK leaves the EU in March 2019 with no agreement in place. It is relevant to all researchers and research organisations in the fields of nuclear fission research (the current method of energy generation used at power plants), and nuclear fusion research (experimental energy generation technology). Before 29 March 2019 The UK is currently a net contributor to the EU budget. The UK is also a member of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), which facilitates cooperation between EU countries in the civil nuclear sector. This includes participation in the Euratom Research & Training programme. Through this programme, UK organisations and scientists collaborate internationally on a range of nuclear research projects and facilities, including:  Joint European Torus: The Joint European Torus, located at Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in Oxfordshire UK, is the world’s largest operational magnetically confined plasma physics experiment, and the focal point of the European fusion research programme  International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor: The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor is an international nuclear fusion research and engineering megaproject  Joint Research Centre: The Joint Research Centre is the European Commission’s science and knowledge service. It employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to EU policy  indirect actions (such as a competitive call for proposals for fission research and the Joint European Torus Operating Contract). The Euratom Research and Training programme runs for five years at a time, with scope for a two-year extension within the same Multiannual Financial Framework cycle. The current programme runs between 2014-2018 and the 2019-2020 extension of the programme is still under discussion in the EU. In May 2018, the Council of the EU agreed to the extension in principle. This extension is expected to be agreed in the early autumn 2018 once the European Parliament submits its view. In a negotiated scenario, the UK will continue to take part in all EU programmes during the rest of the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework, including Euratom Research & Training. This has been agreed as part of the Financial Settlement which was signed-off by both UK and Commission negotiators in a draft Withdrawal Agreement and welcomed by the other 27 EU member states at March European Council. After 29 March 2019 if there’s ‘no deal’ The UK would leave Euratom. A separate notice has been prepared on the implications of leaving Euratom for the civil nuclear sector , including the future context and impact in a ‘no deal’ scenario on civil nuclear trade with the EU and partners. In a ‘no deal’ scenario, the UK will:  no longer be a member of the Euratom R&T programme  no longer be a member of Fusion for Energy  therefore, no longer be able to collaborate on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project through the EU. The UK government is committed to nuclear research. This will mean continued domestic research, as well as its other international partnerships, to ensure the UK retains its world leading position in this field. Implications, and actions for businesses and other stakeholders Joint European Torus - continued funding In a ‘no deal’ scenario, the government will fulfil its stated commitment to continue to provide funding for its share of Joint European Torus costs until the end of 2020, subject to the EU Commission extending the Joint European Torus operating contract until then. The European Commission has stated its ambition to ‘extend the Joint European Torus operating contract until 2020’ but a final decision is still outstanding. The UK Atomic Energy Agency sees Joint European Torus experiments as critical to supporting International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor construction and planning. When the Joint European Torus operating contract ends, the UK government is willing to discuss options to keep Joint European Torus operational until the end of its useful life.