Scientific and technological objectives of the project

Since 1979, important research activities in the area of decommissioning were funded under the various Framework Programmes of the EC. Today, it is considered that decommissioning of nuclear installations is becoming a mature industry and that more and adequate emphasis should be put on consolidation and dissemination of the results obtained during the former Programmes and on identification of the focus for future needs.

Developing a Co-ordination Network on Decommissioning of Nuclear Installations (CND) is an attempt to provide an instrument to integrate these activities in a coherent and targeted way. A CND will enhance the ability of the Commission to disseminate the acquired information and knowledge amongst the enlarged community, and the ability of decommissioners to benefit from it and from each others knowledge. By providing and resourcing a CND, the EC will deliver the input to improve the conditions for a more effective co-operation.

The activities of the CND are part of the general platform that the CND will cover. Operational tools are required to support these activities. Therefore, the CND will encompass and take maximum benefit of tools that were developed within the former FP's, such as

• the operational web site of the Thematic Network on Decommissioning (TND),
• the database on technical and cost aspects of decommissioning (EC-DB-NET2),
• the information library based on a Compendium on Decommissioning and Decontamination (CDD),
• the European website on Decommissioning of Nuclear Installations (EU-DECOM).

In practice, the CND will be the logical continuation at a higher level, of the Thematic Network on Decommissioning of Nuclear Installations (TND). The TND was created within FP-5.

The scope and the objectives of the CND are:

• To join manufacturers, users, universities, research centres and other organisations from the EU and candidate countries around the various aspects of decommissioning;
• To take part in the exchange of scientific and technical information relating to nuclear installation decommissioning projects;
• To analyse difficulties and to inform about deficiencies and unsolved problems with the aim to answer questions about what to do in specific cases;
• To advise the EC and organisations involved in relevant aspects of decommissioning;
• To develop initiatives versus the EC as well as to participants in relevant areas relating to specific aspects of decommissioning;
• To drive/steer activities initiated by the EC or by participants;
• To assist the organisation of conferences, seminars, workshops, ad hoc meetings, the set-up of ad hoc working groups, ...

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