WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1493/99 by Eryl McNALLY International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)
29. 1. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 27 E/97 (2000/C 27 E/119) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1493/99 by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) What is the current position of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor)? Are partners still committed? Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (6 September 1999) The engineering design of ITER is being conducted in the framework of the ITER engineering design activities agreement (EDA) as extended till July 2001. Recently, the work has been re-oriented with the aim of reducing the construction cost to 50 % of the initial estimate (i. e. to about 3 300 million €) and, therefore, of reducing the technology objectives, while still fulfilling the overall mission of the programme. The new design benefits from advances in physics and technology, achieved during the EDA. The study on the outline design of the new device will be available at the end of the year. The situation among the ITER partners is that the Community (with Swiss and Canadian participation), Japan and Russia remain committed to complete the ITER EDA. The US ü which completed its withdrawal from ITER in July 1999 ü is reviewing the strategy of its fusion energy sciences programme. (2000/C 27 E/120) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1496/99 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: Budget line B7-651 Budget line B7-651 Coordination of development policy, evaluation of the results of Community aid and follow-up and inspection measuresí It is also intended to cover the financing of conducting a study on European Union standards and codes of conduct for enterprises in third countries following the keen interest in the subject by industry, trade unions and civil society. includes the following remark: Could the Commission give an update on action taken with regard to Parliamentís wish to conduct a study? Is the Commission doing the study internally or has it put out a tender? Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (6 October 1999) The Commission is fully aware of the Parliamentís resolution proposing initiatives on Community standards and codes of conduct for European enterprises operating in third countries and of the Parliament wish to conduct a study on this subject through budget line B. 7-6. As the Honourable Member is aware, the budget line is mostly devoted to evaluation of programmes of cooperation in developing countries financed by the Commission (mid-term evaluations, final evaluations, sectoral and global evaluations). Given the complexity of the proposed study, there is a need for widespread consultations between the different parties concerned in order to define the objectives of the study and to elaborate detailed terms of reference. Since this is of such major importance, over the last year the Commission has organised a number of meetings on codes of conduct relating to respect for social rights. It intends to continue this type of meetings and promote exchanges of information and experience between those interested in developing such codes. These meetings and exchanges will provide an essential input for an analysis of the content of practices developed in Europe