Europaudvalget 2025
KOM (2025) 0061
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EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
Brussels, 28.2.2025
SWD(2025) 55 final
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION
Interim evaluation of the 2021-2025 Euratom research and training programme
Accompanying the document
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE
COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE
COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
Interim evaluation of the 2021-2025 Euratom research and training programme
{COM(2025) 61 final} - {SWD(2025) 54 final}
EN
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XECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Staff Working Document provides support and evidence for the Commission’s report on the
interim evaluation of the Euratom Research and Training Programmes 2021-2025 (‘the
Programme’).
The programme was launched in May 2021 with a total budget of EUR 1.38 billion. By December
2024, 79% of the budget had been committed and 40% of payments made. The programme is
implemented in direct management through indirect and direct actions, which make up 61.5% and
38.5% of the budget respectively.
For indirect actions, 58 project grants were signed, with EUR 810 million in Euratom contributions,
following three competitive calls for proposals and assessments of proposals from named
beneficiaries. In addition, the Commission provided funding of EUR 2.6 million for postdoctoral
fellowships under Maria Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCAs) and for prizes recognising excellence
in fission and fusion research.
For direct actions, the JRC budget (EUR 426 million for 2021-2024) is distributed across three main
categories: permanent and non-permanent staff (making up over 63% of the budget), building
maintenance (29%) and operational expenses for scientific work (8%).
The programme is successful in supporting pertinent research on nuclear safety, security, safeguards,
radiation protection, waste management and fusion energy. It is too early to draw conclusions on the
programme’s impact – because only one project had been completed by 2024 and 10 more will be
completed in 2025, out of 58 launched. However, available outcomes in terms of projects launched,
their coverage and first results, as well as the JRC outputs, show that the programme’s direct and
indirect actions implemented over the last four years are relevant for achieving its objectives. The
programme has delivered in terms of peer-reviewed publications (ca. 2 000) and the number of
people who have benefited from training and access to research infrastructure (ca. 11 000).
Co-funded Euratom partnerships are the cornerstone of the programme, accounting for 76% of
budget for indirect actions and involving most Member States (21 in waste management, 23 in
radiation protection and 26 in fusion). The programme also made use of substantial funding from
beneficiaries (45% of the costs) through partnerships. Progress made by partnerships is attracting
more partners from non-EU countries; for instance, in radioactive waste the number of partners
doubled.
Euratom-funded safety research is not limited to Member States that use nuclear power; 21 Member
States are involved in different projects in this area. The programme also involves the Horizon
Europe widening countries (14 out of 15 countries), benefiting from 13% of Euratom funding in
fission research (an increase from 10% in 2014-2018). ‘Widening countries’ now account for 24% of
participants in Euratom projects (an increase from 21% in 2014-2018).
Finally, reporting shows that projects launched in 2021 and 2022 reached 53% of their milestones.
The data available at the time of writing shows that progress is being made in achieving the
programme’s objectives as explained in the sections below.
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The research funded by the Euratom Programme helps Member States to develop a broad spectrum
of applications of ionising radiation, while reducing the risks. Safety research is essential for those
Member States that want to pursue nuclear energy as part of their energy mix, whether domestic or
imported, and for those that need reassurance that nuclear power plants in neighbouring countries
meet the highest safety standards. The public also stands to benefit from Euratom-funded research on
other applications of ionising radiation, in particular in medicine.
Evaluation shows that Euratom financing is used in an optimal manner, avoiding unnecessary
duplication while providing the required EU-added value, economies of scale, and coordination. In
this respect, the Euratom programme remains a key part of the European research landscape.
The Euratom Programme effectively accommodates the diverse needs of all Member States, from
small Member States with no civil nuclear programme and almost no nuclear research activities, to
large Member States that rely heavily on nuclear power for their energy needs and are at the
forefront of nuclear research. Even amongst the Member States with civil nuclear programmes, the
level of maturity of these programmes, the technology underlying their reactor fleet, the strategic
orientations for the future development and the research needs and interests can differ significantly.
Considering these boundary conditions, the evaluation shows that the Euratom-supported actions
match these needs.
In the area of nuclear safety, Euratom actions are well aligned with the needs of an ageing reactor
fleet, addressing the inherent safety concerns arising from lifetime extension, as well as more
generally improving knowledge of plant behaviour and performance and refining and developing
new mitigation measures to respond to new risks as they appear (e.g. issues raised by the Fukushima
accident).
Concerning research on advanced reactor systems, the Euratom programme has been focused on
better understanding of safety implications arising from the development of advanced reactor
concepts. Research priorities have been generally well focused on the most promising concepts being
developed on the national level. The Programme also addressed the growing interest in small
modular reactors (SMRs), by funding research on SMR, with particular focus on their safety features
and passive safety systems.
The Euratom programme has also responded to the need and desire of Member States to better
structure cooperative research activities, notably in the domain of safety and management of
radioactive waste and in radiation protection, by further developing co-funded Partnerships in these
fields.
Results of Euratom-funded research in fusion are not sufficient to bring fusion energy to the market
in time to support EU decarbonisation efforts and to boost competitiveness. It is necessary to identify
the critical issues and risks for making the fusion power plant that should drive the Euratom-funded
research now and in the next years. The Programme must evolve to address the technology
bottlenecks which require additional focus and investment while involving more private financing,
industry experience and increasing the international collaboration with reliable partners where there
is a clear added value for the EU. The Commission already initiated preparations of a co-
programmed European Partnership in this field, bringing together stakeholders in the public and
private sectors.
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The JRC plays a particular role in the Euratom programme. Its four nuclear sites have provided
expertise and facilities to half of the Euratom research projects launched since 2021. They also carry
out their own highly relevant research, deliver training and produce analyses. This benefits Member
States and provides policy support to the Commission on the whole spectrum of activities, from
nuclear safety to security and safeguards. The evaluation highlighted the efforts to improve the
JRC’s overall efficiency, with the introduction of a new way of working based on portfolios. This
has led to better integration of scientific activities. It also noted the implementation of a new nuclear
strategy to improve infrastructure management, better cooperate with stakeholders and enhance
communication.
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