DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SAFETY OF THE FUEL-CY CLE

For more than thirty years, the European Institute for Transuranium El ements has performed research and development work for the member stat es of the European Union. Over this period of time, objectives and dut ies have changed in accordance with developments in the nuclear fuel c ycle. While early activities were concentrated on the metallurgy of pl utonium an on studies of fuel for fast breeder reactors, two new devel opment lines have become dominant approximately since the mid-seventie s: the security of the nuclear fuel cycle, and basic research into act inides. Despite all changes, and thanks to its facilities, the Institu te has always run its programs along application-oriented lines in clo se interaction with industry, research centers and institutions in mem ber states and the European Commission. The present breakdown of the I nstitute's main activities into som 30% basic research, 40% applied re search, and 30% services and work for third parties appears to be mean ingful also for the future. It is good to see, in this situation, that the Institute has managed to adapt to the new framework conditions of the 4th Research Program of the European Commission. The article indi cates, by quoting examples from 1995, that the Institute was quite suc cessful in competing for third-party funds, achieving, as it did, a se lf-financing ratio of nearly 12%. It was quick and flexible in reactin g to the changed needs of its clients. This is borne out by the adapta tions, new developments, and investments into new facilities for futur e work. The Institute must be assigned competency in those areas in wh ich its institutionalized role as a neutral, independent agency is obj ectively useful and necessary.