Main achievements of FP-4 research in reactor safety

This summary paper deals with the strategy, the organisation and main achie vements of the 67 multi-partner projects cosponsored by the European Union (EU) as 'indirect actions' (shared-cost and concerted actions) and co-ordin ated under seven clusters, each devoted to one key safety issue in nuclear reactor safety, as they were presented at FISA-99. The fundamental safety o bjective for nuclear power plants (NPPs) consists in protecting the public and the environment from the harmful effects resulting from ionising radiat ions. The 4th Euratom framework programme 1994-1998 (FP-4) has been carryin g out research with this objective both through 'indirect actions' and thro ugh 'direct actions' in co-operation with the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (EC). The total cost of this research programme was 62. 8 million, out of which 34.2 million was contributed by the EU budget. Besi des technological safety requirements, socio-economic aspects are becoming increasingly important due to the level of public and political acceptance and to the economic pressure of deregulated electricity markets. It is show n that research conducted in the Euratom framework may contribute to meet t hese requirements, thereby maintaining nuclear power as a competitive and s ustainable option for the energy policy of the European Union. (C) 2001 Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.