Translation of "le projet international metropolis " (French → English) :

The Community has played a key role in the development of a next step international fusion project, the ITER, starting in 1988 with Conceptual Design Activities (2), continuing in 1992 with Engineering Design Activities (3) which were extended by three years in 1998 (4) and followed by a second agreement in 1994 (5) which, in 2001, produced a detailed, complete and fully integrated engineering design for a research facility aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of fusion as an energy source from which the Community could derive significant benefit, in particular in the context of ensuring the security and diversity of its long-term ener ...[+++]gy supply.

A significant part of that budget will serve to finance the ITER international nuclear fusion project.

At a meeting in Tokyo on 1 April, the chief ITER negotiators from the seven international parties (European Union, India, Japan, Korea, China, Russia and USA), identified the top management team that will manage this major international fusion energy research project.

Commission approves aid for international pipeline project

- In the Sixth Framework Programme, the unrestricted opening up of the "thematic" part to all third countries, with possible access to the relevant funding in some cases, the introduction of a double fellowship scheme for researchers coming from third countries to the EU and for EU researchers going to third countries, and the redefinition of EU research activities in the field of nuclear fusion on the basis of full EU participation in the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) project;

The project involves both basic (30%) and applied (70%) RD. It is an important international and collaborative project with a high European interest.