Activities of the Community

EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY E U RATOM THE COMMISSION First GENERAL REPORT on the Activities of the Community (Jonuary /958 fo Sepfember l959l S E PTE M B E R 21, I958 The President and the Members of the Euratom Commission to The President of the European Parliamentary Assembly Mr. President, In accordance with Article I25 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Commu- nity (Euratom), we have the honour to submit to you the First General Report of the Commission on the activities of the Community. We have the honour to be, Mr. President, your obedient servants, Bruss els, September 2 7, 19 58 L. AnnanND, President E. MnDr, Vice-President P. Dn GnooTE, European Commtssioner H. L. KnBTELER, European Commissioner E. M. J. A. Se.ssnN, European Commissioner Table of Contents Page INrnopucrloN.. .. I PART ONE; THn INsTITUTIoNS OF THE CONANAUNITY AssEMBLY L7 Ch,apter I - Tnn EunopEAN Plnr,reMENTAnv Councrr, . o . 23 Chapterll -THr Chapterlll 25 -TnnCo*turssroN..... o . 31 ChapterlV -TgnCounr Chapter V THr EcoNoMIC AND Socrer, CouurrrEr 33 - PART TWO; THn AppLICATIoN oF THn TnnATY ChapterVl aND EpucerroN . 37 -RrsEARcH ChapterVll oF INronuATroN. 51 -DlssEMrNATroN Chapter VIil Nucr.nen INpusrRY, ENrncY AND - EcoNol,ty.. .... .. .... 55 Chapter IX . o . o . 61 -SupPLY Chapter X ...... 65 -CONTROLANDS6fg1y.. Chapter XI . 69 -HBALTHPnorncrroN. Chapter XII Tnn ExrnnNAL Rnr,euoNs oF THE - CouuuNrrY 77 INTRODUCTION 1. This First General Report, which is submitted to the European Parliamentary Assembly by the Commission of the European Atomic Energy Community eight months after holding its first meeting, shows that, in accordance with the provisions and express instructions contained in the Treaty, the Commission has lost no time in setting about the tasks entrusted to it. The various measures which have been adopted are set out in the body of the Report. This short introduction is designed to draw attention to their main features and to assess what the prospects are for the work of the Community. 2. During this initial period the Commission has had to build up its various departments and decide what particular methods of work are best suited to its needs. Although atl the more important posts have been filled as it became necessary, the establishment has still to be completed. The Commission intends, however, to have only a small staff of not more than 500 for its main offices in 1959. The Commission has made plans to work closelv together with the other Communities so as to ensure the unity of action essential to their j oint European effort , ot the same time paying due regard to the individuality and specific methods of work of the organizations concerned. 3. During this initial period useful contacts have been made with the Scientific and Technical Committee set up in accordance with the Treaty and the Commission has already been able to appreciate the extent to which EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY the eminent personalities designated by the various governments will be able to contribute to the efficiency of the Community's work. A number of extremely important questions in the field of research and health protection have already been discussed with the Committee. 4. The field of research includes a variety of activities which cannot be systematized and planned without the risk of forfeiting the opportunities offered by chance, and individual inspiration and talent. Nuclear projects are difficult to implement; they make considerable demands on the individual and their multiplicity calls for the use of all available resources. It must, however, be borne in mind that individuals no less than institutions need time to develop in order to carry out the work they are called upon to do. At the same time, it is essential for all concerned not to lose sight of the general picture. The divi- sion of labour is the most important factor in increasing the efficiency of the common effort. The Commission is doing its utmost to encourage co-operatioh, team-work and exchanges; it will endeavour to avoid duplication of effort, to filt gaps and to provide assistance wherever there is a danger that full use is not being made of available opportunities and talent. The preliminary studies which are going on at the present time with a view to setting up the Joint Research Centre provided for by the Treaty are being carried out in the same spirit. Here again, the aim is to make the maxi- mum use of the skill and resources available to our six countries. 5. In the field of health protection, basic standards have been worked out thanks to the valuable assistance rIRST GENERAL REPORT given by a group of experts appointed by the Technical and Scientific Committee. The Commission was required by the Treaty ancl was able to carry out this particular task within a ver.\f short time. This did not prevent it, however, from making contact with other international organizations such as the Organization for European Economic Co-operation and the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Commission is convinced of the necessity of drawing up safety standards which are universally valid and as uniform as possible if the danger of a conflict between the demands of competi- tion and safety is to be averted. At the same time, however, care must be taken to ensure that the development of nuclear energy, to which the Commission is committed, is not hampered by unnecessarily strict measures. 6. A further task entrusted to the Commission by the Treaty was the drawing up of the report on the position of the nuclear industries in the six Community countries. This report which gives the first overall picture of the situation in this field was submitted to the Assembly within the prescribed time. The Commission intends to maintain and develop the contacts which it was able to make in compiling the report with the industries of the Community countries. As a result of this initial inquiry, direct relations have been established with the various bodies and undertakings involved. The use of impersonal questionnaires was avoided as much as possible, a point worth mentioning as being characteristic of the sort of approach which the Commission intends to adopt in its future dealings. The Commission also attaches great importance to the contacts which are being established with the workers' organizations in the Community. EUROPEA^ilT ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY The results of the inquiry shows that the progress already made and the programme which is currently being carried out together constitute an impressive aggregate. While it is true that, as compared to the more advanced nuclear powers, the six Euratom countries have considerable leeway to make uP, it is striking with what astonishing rapidity a nuclear industry is being built up within the Community. The importance of the role which the Community is called upon to play in the nuclear field is shown by the multiplicity and high technical level of the results recordecl in the report. Together, the six Community countries form an economic unit large enough to be able to meet the requirements of a large-scale nuclear industry. Their technical potentialities are such that no branch of nuclear activity will be closed to them for ladr of adequate facilities. 7. Using this first inventory as a starting point, the Commission will have to follow the subsequent progress of the nuclear industries in the Community. It has thus laid down criteria as to the type and scope of the investment projects to be communicated to it under the Treaty. In laying down these criteria, the Commission has found it neeessary to adopt a lower level of investment than that current in the European Coal and Steel Com- munity. It has also established a different ratio between the amounts applicable to new plants on the one hand and to replacements and conversions on the other, since in the nuclear field, relatively minor replacements and conversions can bring about much more thoroughgoing changes in manufacturing conditions than is possible in the case of the older industries. FIRST GENER AL REPORT 8. Finally, the Commission has drawn up and submitted to the Council a draft statute for the Supply Agency. These proposals are based on the following principles: The Ageocy, which is the hub of the Community's - supply system, has a right of option over all ores, source and fissile materials produced within the Community, as *?t as the exclusive right of concluding all supply contracts. The Agency, in accordance with the provisions of - the Treaty is subj ect to the directives of the Com- mission, which can exercise a right of veto over its decisions. The Agency is designed to be a flexible organi- - zatton which will not obstruct the free play of supply and demand and will be operated on commercial lines. It is for this reason that the Com* mission plans to promote close co-operation with the commercial and industrial circles concerned by setting up a Consultative Committee. Under the present economic conditions and this illustrates its fundamental adaptability the Com- mission feels that the Agency's role should be confined to that of an intermediary, 9. At the same time the Commission has endeavoured to foster close collaboration with other countries. Talks have been going on with Great Britain with the aim of negotiating an agreement which would enable the Com- munity to participate in the development of natural uranium reactors and benefit from the experience of the country that is most advanced in this field. The negotia- tions for the conclusion of this agreement have almost been completed. EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY Thanks to contacts made before Euratom was officially in being, or agreement has been signed with the United States.

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