Nuclear fission energy supplies 35% of electricity in the European Union. It constitutes an element in combating climate change and reducing Europe's dependence on imported energy. Some of the power plants of the current generation will continue to be operated for at least 20 years. For these reasons, the second thematic area of the specific programme implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities (2007 to 2011) is research on nuclear fission and radiation protection [Decision 2006/976]. This part of the programme aims to enhance in particular the safety performance, resource efficiency and cost-effectiveness of nuclear fission and uses of radiation in industry and medicine. The specific objectives of this part are:

(i) the management of radioactive waste aiming to establish a sound scientific and technical basis for demonstrating the technologies and safety of disposal of spent fuel and long-lived radioactive wastes in geological formations;

(ii) reactor systems research aiming to ensure the continued safe operation of all relevant types of existing installations and to explore the potential of more advanced technology;

(iii) radiation protection research aiming at the safe use of radiation in medicine and industry;

(iv) research infrastructures, ranging in size from very large and expensive plant and laboratory networks to much smaller facilities such as databases, numerical simulation tools and tissue banks

(v) Human resources, mobility and training aiming to guarantee the availability of suitably qualified researchers, engineers and technicians