Fusion R&D in the European Union's Framework Programmes

The long-term objective of the fusion programme is the harnessing of fusion for the joint creation of prototype reactors for power stations.

In this paper the unique organisational character of the fusion programme, the framework of European and worldwide co-operation and the research programme are presented. The future evolution of the programme as part of the European Research Area and Community research policy for the forthcoming years and the evolution towards the possible construction of ITER, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, are described.