• Garching, 24th May 2006:

ITER agreement initialled in Brussels

This morning, ministers from the EU, China, India, Japan, South Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA met in the Commission´s Berlaymont building in Brussels to initial the agreement that they have negotiated on jointly, implementing the ITER fusion energy research project, which will be located in Cadarache, France. The goal of ITER is to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy. Being an international organisation, it needs to be established through an international agreement between the parties. The initialling of this agreement opens the way to the authorisation of its conclusion and signature by the governments concerned. This is expected to take place before the end of 2006.

"Ladies and Gentleman,
it is with a real sense of pride that I stand here today with my colleagues from the other ITER parties to announce the completion of the negotiation process that will bring into life the most significant scientific partnership the world has yet seen. We represent more than half the world´s population, and recognise that by working together today, we stand a much better chance of tackling the challenges of tomorrow. Energy is an issue of concern to all of us, and we all hope that what at one time seemed a far off goal - fusion as a viable energy source - is now a step nearer reality.

Of course the real scientific and engineering work starts now! We already have the nominations for the Director-General and his deputy - Kaname Ikeda and Norbert Holtkamp - and they clearly form a very strong team to propel this project into the future. We will now all take this agreement back to our governments for finalisation, with a view to completing all the formalities by the end of the year."

EU-Commissioner Janez Potocnik,

Brussels, 24 May 2006