euratom

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-45653-0001, Rom, Verträge über Zollpakt und Eurotom unterzeichnet.jpg, Walter Hallstein and Antonio Segni, signing the European customs union and Euratom in Rome, Italy]]

The driving force behind the creation of Euratom was France's desire to develop nuclear energy and nuclear weapons without having to rely on the United States and/or the United Kingdom.{{Cite journal |last=Nieburg |first=H. L. |year=1963 |title=EURATOM: A Study in Coalition Politics |journal=World Politics |language=en |volume=15 |issue=4 |pages=597–622 |doi=10.2307/2009458 |jstor=2009458 |s2cid=153589335 |issn=1086-3338}} The costs of nuclear development were also large, motivating France to share the costs with the other members of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

During the negotiations to create Euratom, the United States and the United Kingdom sought to gain influence over nuclear development in Europe. The US and the UK created the European Nuclear Energy Agency (ENEA) as a way to limit the value of Euratom and gain influence over the spread of nuclear technology. The Soviet Union launched a propaganda campaign against Euratom, as it sought to stoke fears among Europeans that the organisation would enable West Germany to develop nuclear weapons.

The Common Assembly proposed extending the powers of the ECSC to cover other sources of energy. However, Jean Monnet, ECSC architect and President, wanted a separate community to cover nuclear power. Louis Armand was put in charge of a study into the prospects of nuclear energy use in Europe; his report concluded that further nuclear development was needed to fill the deficit left by the exhaustion of coal deposits and to reduce dependence on oil producers. However, the Benelux states and Germany were also keen on creating a general single market, although it was opposed by France due to its protectionism, and Jean Monnet thought it too large and difficult a task. In the end, Monnet proposed the creation of separate atomic energy and economic communities to reconcile both groups.[http://www.cvce.eu/obj/1957_1968_successes_and_crises-en-5136b72a-0de2-4636-bda0-27e58b6c83e8.html 1957–1968 Successes and crises] CVCE

The Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom at the Château of Val-Duchesse in 1956 drew up the essentials of the new treaties. Euratom would foster cooperation in the nuclear field, at the time a very popular area, and would, along with the EEC, share the Common Assembly and Court of Justice of the ECSC, but not its executives. Euratom would have its own Council and Commission, with fewer powers than the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community. On 25 March 1957, the Treaties of Rome (the Euratom Treaty and the EEC Treaty) were signed by the six ECSC members and on 1 January 1958 they came into force.[http://www.cvce.eu/obj/a_european_atomic_energy_community-en-19bc7f11-bea1-49c7-b534-18327c303f41.html A European Atomic Energy Community] CVCE[http://www.cvce.eu/obj/the_signing_of_the_rome_treaties-en-2f643b3d-aba2-422c-8a94-79a0531e6559.html The signing of the Rome Treaties] CVCE[http://www.cvce.eu/obj/drafting_of_the_rome_treaties-en-8efe2279-ee12-4a75-aeeb-0bd547f4128f.html Drafting of the Rome Treaties] CVCE

To save on resources, these separate executives created by the Rome Treaties were merged in 1965 by the Merger Treaty. The institutions of the EEC would take over responsibilities for the running of the ECSC and Euratom, with all three then becoming known as the European Communities even if each legally existed separately. In 1993, the Maastricht Treaty created the European Union, which absorbed the Communities into the European Community pillar, yet Euratom still maintained a distinct legal personality.

The European Constitution was intended to consolidate all previous treaties and increase democratic accountability in them. The Euratom treaty had not been amended as the other treaties had, so the European Parliament had been granted few powers over it. However, the reason it had gone unamended was the same reason the Constitution left it to remain separate from the rest of the EU: anti-nuclear sentiment among the European electorate, which may unnecessarily turn voters against the treaty.[http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/features/euratom-nuking-europe-s-futur/ Euratom: nuking Europe's future] Greenpeace International, 9 July 2003[http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2003/MJ_03_March_declaration.htm One hundred civil society groups say abolish Euratom!] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523190508/http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2003/MJ_03_March_declaration.htm |date=23 May 2008 }} Friends of the Earth Europe, 3 March 2003{{cite web|url=http://www.eu-energy.com/euratom-reform.htm|title=Euratom Loans|website=eu-energy.com}} The Euratom treaty thus remains in force relatively unamended from its original signing.

{{Clear}}

This overall timeline includes the establishment and development of Euratom, and shows that currently, it is the only former EC body that has not been incorporated into the EU.

{{EU evolution timeline}}

{{Politics of the European Union}}

• Since 2014, Switzerland has participated in Euratom programmes as an associated state.
• Since January 2021, the United Kingdom participates in Euratom programmes as an associated state under the terms of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/fe3b50a4-e3e1-11e6-8405-9e5580d6e5fb |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/fe3b50a4-e3e1-11e6-8405-9e5580d6e5fb |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |title=UK confirms plan to leave European atomic energy community|date=26 January 2017 |author1=Alex Barker |author2=Arthur Beesley |newspaper=Financial Times |access-date=27 January 2017}}
• As of 2024, Euratom maintains Co-operation Agreements of various scopes with ten countries: Armenia,{{Cite web |date=19 April 2018 |title=Armenian president declares readiness to enhance cooperation with European Union |url=http://arka.am/en/news/politics/armenian_president_declares_readiness_to_enhance_cooperation_with_european_union/ |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=ARKA}} Australia,{{Cite journal|url=https://inis.iaea.org/search/search.aspx?orig_q=RN:13676122|title=Cooperation between Euratom and Australia|first=Knoerich|last=V.|date=28 April 1981|journal=Atw. Atomwirtschaft, Atomtechnik|volume=26|issue=12}} Canada,{{CELEX|21959A1006(01)|text=Agreement between the Government of Canada and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for cooperation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy}} India,{{Cite web |date=14 July 2020 |title=India, EU sign civil nuclear cooperation agreement on eve of Summit |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-eu-sign-civil-nuclear-cooperation-agreement-on-eve-of-summit/story-EpPnbxaN92LTkYCIiFqnTM.html |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}} Japan,{{Cite web|url=https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Euratom-signs-fusion-energy-declaration-with-Japan|title=Euratom signs fusion energy declaration with Japan : New Nuclear – World Nuclear News|website=world-nuclear-news.org}} Kazakhstan,{{Cite web|url=https://www.informea.org/en/treaties/agreement-between-government-kazakhstan-and-european-atomic-energy-community-euratom|title=Agreement between the Government of Kazakhstan and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) on cooperation in the sphere of peaceful use of nuclear energy | InforMEA|website=informea.org}} South Africa,{{Cite web|url=https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/31664/|title=Agreement between RSA & European Atomic Energy Community for Co-operation on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy | PMG|website=pmg.org.za}} Ukraine,{{Cite web|url=http://web.kpi.kharkov.ua/eestc/en/2021/10/25/ukraine-joins-horizon-europe-and-euratom-programs/|title=UKRAINE JOINS "HORIZON EUROPE" AND "EURATOM" PROGRAMS – European Educational Scientific Technological Center|date=25 October 2021 |accessdate=5 March 2023}} United States,{{CELEX|21996A0520(01)|text=Agreement for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy between the European Atomic Energy Community and the United States of America – Agreed Minute – Declaration on non-proliferation policy}} and Uzbekistan.{{CELEX|22003A1021(01)|text=Agreement for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy between the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan}}

{{see also|United Kingdom invocation of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union}}

The United Kingdom announced its intention to withdraw from the EAEC on 26 January 2017, following on from its decision to withdraw from the European Union.{{cite news|author1=Sam Gosden |author2=Emily Coates |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/article/britain-quits-european-nuclear-body-pgmq9m9fc|title=Britain quits European nuclear body |date=21 December 2017 |website=The Times}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jan/27/uk-exit-eu-atomic-treaty-brexit-euratom-hinkley-point-c|title=UK exit from EU atomic treaty under Brexit 'will delay power stations'|date=27 January 2017 |author=Adam Vaughan|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=27 January 2017}}{{cite journal |url=http://www.nature.com/news/researchers-shocked-at-uk-s-plan-to-exit-eu-nuclear-agency-1.21388|title=Researchers shocked at UK's plan to exit EU nuclear agency |first=Elizabeth |last=Gibney |journal=Nature|year=2017|doi=10.1038/nature.2017.21388|s2cid=184656918|doi-access=free}} Formal notice to withdraw from the EAEC was provided in March 2017, within the Article 50 notification letter, where the withdrawal was made explicit.{{cite web|title=Prime Minister May's letter to EU|date=29 March 2017|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/604079/Prime_Ministers_letter_to_European_Council_President_Donald_Tusk.pdf|access-date=1 April 2017}} Withdrawal only became effective following negotiations on the terms of the exit, which lasted two years and ten months.

A report by the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, published in May 2017, questioned the legal necessity of leaving Euratom and called for a temporary extension of membership to allow time for new arrangements to be made.{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/business-energy-industrial-strategy/news-parliament-2015/leaving-eu-energy-climate-change-report-published-16-17/|title=Government must act urgently to end Brexit risk to nuclear industry|website=UK Parliament|language=en|access-date=8 July 2017}}

In June 2017, the European Commission's negotiations task force published a Position paper transmitted to EU27 on nuclear materials and safeguard equipment (Euratom), titled "Essential Principles on nuclear materials and safeguard equipment".{{Cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/publications/position-paper-transmitted-eu27-nuclear-materials-and-safeguard-equipment-euratom_en |title=Position paper transmitted to EU27 on nuclear materials and safeguard equipment (Euratom)|date=23 June 2017|website=European Commission |language=en|access-date=27 June 2017}} The following month, a briefing paper from the House of Commons Library assessed the implications of leaving Euratom.{{Cite report|title=Briefing Paper CBP 8036: Euratom |last=Hinson|first=Suzanna|date=7 July 2017|website=UK Parliament |url=http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8036|access-date=8 July 2017}}

In 2017, an article in The Independent questioned the availability of nuclear fuel to the UK after 2019 if the UK were to withdraw, and the need for new treaties relating to the transportation of nuclear materials.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/brexit-nuclear-power-euratom-hinckley-point-risks-nuclear-fusion-energy-bills-a7832136.html|title=Brexit will create 'an alarming mess' for UK nuclear industry, scientists warn|date=9 July 2017|work=The Independent}} A 2017 article in the New Scientist stated that radioisotope supply for cancer treatments would also need to be considered in new treaties.{{cite web |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2140607-brexiteers-must-not-risk-uks-nuclear-future-by-leaving-euratom/|title=Brexiteers must not risk UK's nuclear future by leaving Euratom|date=12 July 2017|work=The New Scientist}}

UK politicians speculated that the UK could stay in Euratom. In 2017, some argued that this would require – beyond the consent of the EU27 – amendment or revocation of the Article 50 letter of March 2017.{{Cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/0f57f69d-305d-3f9f-834f-90e43e3f2633 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/0f57f69d-305d-3f9f-834f-90e43e3f2633 |archive-date=10 December 2022|title=Brexit: what happens to Article 50 in a U-turn on Euratom?|work=Financial Times|access-date=11 July 2017|url-access=subscription}}

The Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018, making provision for safeguards after withdrawal from Euratom, received royal assent on 26 June 2018.{{cite web |title=Bill stages — Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018 — UK Parliament |url=https://services.parliament.uk/Bills/2017-19/nuclearsafeguards/stages.html |publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom |access-date=9 July 2018 |language=en}}

The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, outlining the UK's relationship with the European Union from 1 January 2021, makes provision for the United Kingdom's participation "as an associated country of all parts of the Euratom programme".

In the history of European regulation, Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty represents pioneering legislation concerning binding transfrontier obligations with respect to environmental impact and protection of humans.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fz-juelich.de/portal/lw_resource/datapool/__pages/pdp_1407/atw-2008-06_HEUEL-FABIANEK.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911042258/http://www.fz-juelich.de/portal/lw_resource/datapool/__pages/pdp_1407/atw-2008-06_HEUEL-FABIANEK.pdf |url-status=dead |title=Heuel-Fabianek, B., Kümmerle, E., Möllmann-Coers, M., Lennartz, R. (2008): The relevance of Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty for the dismantling of nuclear reactors. atw – International Journal for Nuclear Power 6/2008|archive-date=11 September 2008}}{{clarify|what were those "achievements"? Political bodies, and political persons, often wish to laud their political achievements. But this is Wikipedia, and should explicate the detail, and both sides of topics, with neutral point of view|date=February 2020}}

{{see also|President of the European Commission}}

The five-member Commission was led by only three presidents while it had independent executives (1958–1967), all from France:{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

{{Portal|European Union}}

• EU Directorate General Joint Research Centre – often incorrectly referred to as Euratom due to EURATOM being its origin.
• Energy Community
• Energy policy of the European Union
• History of the European Union
• Institutions of the European Union
• International Atomic Energy Agency
• Nuclear energy in the European Union
• The nuclear part of the Seventh Framework Programme for research and technological development, the European Union's chief instrument for funding research.

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{{Commons category|European Atomic Energy Community}}

• {{Official website |url = http://www.euratom.org }}
• {{CELEX|11957A/TXT|format=PDF|text=Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM)}} ({{CELEX|12016A/TXT|text=consolidated version)}}
• [http://archives.eui.eu/en/fonds/ Documents] of the European Atomic Energy Community are consultable at the [http://www.eui.eu/Research/HistoricalArchivesOfEU/Index.aspx Historical Archives of the EU] in Florence
• [http://www.cvce.eu/recherche/unit-content/-/unit/3cb9e142-6ac4-4184-8794-fc3cf619cf33/748820d2-8dab-4b91-972b-ae25efea09c9 History of the Rome Treaties] Online collection by the CVCE
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090129083324/http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/fu/fu_en.html European Commission Fusion Research]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090728061231/http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/fi/fi_en.html European Commission Fission Research]

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