Activities of François THIOLLET related to 2023/2178(DEC)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy (Fusion for Energy) for the financial year 2022
Amendments (8)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas 2001 ITER “Baseline” estimated that building ITER would cost EUR 5.9 billion (2008 prices) over a 10 years period, with first plasma scheduled for 2016; whereas since then the project has accumulated delays and cost overruns and the current ITER “Baseline” - revised in 2016 - raised the estimated cost to approximately EUR 20 billion and postponed first plasma to 2025;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the Commission’s current estimate regarding the total Euratom budget needed for F4E to finance the European part of the implementation of the ITER project and the associated activities up to 2035, amounts to EUR 15 billion (in current values); whereas the ITER host state (France) and the Euratom Member States are to contribute an additional EUR 3.2 billion (in current values)5 ; _________________ whereas this current estimate will be revised upwards given that according to the Commission1a, “work towards achieving first plasma continues to advance, but it has become clear that the milestone of reaching it by 2025 can no longer be achieved.” _________________ 1a https://commission.europa.eu/strategy- and-policy/eu-budget/performance-and- reporting/programme-performance- statements/iter-performance_en 5 Estimates are based on Commission Communication COM(2017) 319 and the related staff working paper SWD(2017) 232, table 4.
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas ITER accumulated schedule slips (35 months behind schedule), construction (defective components, supply chain), staff safety (irradiation) and staff management problems; whereas according to the French official news agency (AFP), ITER overall building cost multiplied by three and is now around 60 billion euros; whereas, in addition, this already tripled bill will probably continue to increase since the program will have to succeed in producing part of the fuel essential for nuclear fusion: tritium; 1a _________________ 1a https://www.bfmtv.com/economie/entrepri ses/energie/tout-comprendre-ou-en-sont- les-differents-projets-de-fusion-nucleaire- dans-le-monde_AD-202312100291.html
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes, however, that the 2022 Estimate at Completion is still based on 2016 milestone and cost assumptions and that these estimates will be subject to significant revisionincrease due to accumulated delays and cost overruns, once the new ITER project baseline and requirements are finalised, approved by the ITER Council, and formally communicated to F4E;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Notes with concern that, during 2022, ITER project faced multiple problems related to the delivery of the defective components, which pushed ITER in November 2022 to not only stop the assembly of the vacuum container, but also to remove the already installed segments for repairs; notes, in addition to all these difficulties, that the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) put an end to the ITER assembly in January 2022 amid its scientist’s worries related to the planned quantity Radiation protection around the machine; notes that the ASN authority won't let assembly of the machine move forward until ITER organisation can prove it can keep personnel safe;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is aware that, in November 2022, the 31st ITER Council71a agreed on a baseline update and in its 32nd meeting of 21-22 June 202381b it commissioned the ITER Director-General to present a proposal for the updated ITER baseline for review and approval in 2024April 20241c; is extremely concerned that for two consecutive years, the EP will be required to vote for the discharge of the Fusion for Energy /ITER without having any adequate vision of the cost and the medium and long-term schedule of the project; _________________ 7 1a https://www.iter.org/doc/www/content/co m/Lists/list_items/Attachments/1061/2022 _11_IC-31.pdf 8 . 1b https://www.iter.org/doc/www/content/co m/Lists/list_items/Attachments/1115/2023 _06_IC-32.pdf. 1c according to the Commission executability letter for Budget 2024.
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Echoes the Court’s concern that this situation presents a risk to F4E’s sound management and continuity, at a time when experienced senior management staff will be required to implement the new ITER baselines, which have a significant impact on F4E’s activities; recalls its discharge resolution of 10 May 2023[i] underlining that “according to internal and external management assessments and several internal surveys, the main reasons for the deterioration of the working environment at the Joint Undertaking were shortcomings at senior management level, such as non-transparent and dysfunctional decision-making and a lack of social dialogue”. [i] https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil /popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=202 2/2129(DEC)&l=en