EU Domestic Agency established

The European Joint Undertaking for the ITER Fusion energy organization and the development of fusion energy has been established by the Council of the European Union at its meeting in Brussels on 27 March. The Joint Undertaking will form the European Domestic Agency that will manage the EU's contribution to ITER.

With a lifetime of 35 years, a total budget of 9.653 M Euro and based in Barcelona, Spain, the Joint Undertaking will play a major role in the EU's fusion activities. It will provide the contribution of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) to the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization, provide Euratom's contribution to "broader approach" activities with Japan for the rapid realisation of fusion energy, and prepare the co-ordination of a program of activities in preparation for the construction of a demonstration fusion reactor and related facilities.

ITER Nominee DG Kaname Ikeda welcomed the decision: "The EU Domestic Agency has a very large role to play in the ITER project, and I congratulate the EU on this important progress. We hope that this organization will become operational as soon as possible, and we look forward to working with this new counterpart." Read the decision here.