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The Council adopted the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) programme for nuclear research and training activities (16463/13 + COR 1).

The new programme allows for the continuity of nuclear research activities carried out under the current Euratom programme, which expires at the end of 2013. It is a part of the EU's research and innovation framework programme "Horizon 2020" (16939/13).

A simplified access to research projects and the same rules for participation will apply as in Horizon 2020.

The Euratom programme comprises two types of actions:

1. Indirect actions

Indirect actions to cover fusion energy research and research on nuclear fission, safety and radiation protection.

The fusion energy research activities will also include some activities contributing to the achievement of the construction of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), a major experimental facility to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power. Even though, differently from the past, the EU contribution to ITER will be channelled through the joint undertaking for ITER "Fusion for Energy". The activities of that joint undertaking are regulated by a separate legislative act.

2. Direct actions

Direct actions for activities of the Joint Research Centre (http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/index.cfm) in the field of nuclear waste management, environmental impact, safety and security.

The nuclear fission research activities are in line with the objective of enhancing the safety of nuclear fission and other uses of radiation in industry and medicine.

The activities of the JRC cover customer‑driven scientific and technological support for the formulation, development, implementation and monitoring of the Union's policies, with an enhanced focus on safety and security research. The JRC works as an independent reference centre of science and technology in the Union.

Euratom programmes are limited by the Euratom treaty to five years, whereas the general framework programmes for research and innovation last for seven years.

The budget of the Euratom programme is set at 1.6 billion euros in current prices for the years 2014 to 2018. Added to the global budget in Horizon 2020, makes Horizon 2020 the world's largest research programme reaching nearly a total investment of 80 billion euros.

The Euratom programme will continue to contribute to the implementation of the "Innovation Union" strategy, by enhancing competition for scientific excellence and accelerating the deployment of key innovations in the nuclear energy field, notably in fusion and nuclear safety, and will contribute to tackling energy and climate change challenges. In this way it will underpin the creation of an European Research Area.