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(1) The European Atomic Energy Community (the ‘Community’) aims to raise the living standard in the Member States by promoting and facilitating nuclear research in the Member States and complementing it by carrying out a Community research and training programme.

(2) Nuclear research can contribute to social well-being, economic prosperity and environmental sustainability by improving nuclear safety, security and radiation protection. Research on radiation protection has led to improvements in medical technologies from which many citizens benefit, and that research can lead to improvements in other sectors such as industry, agriculture, environment and security.

(3) In full respect of the Member States’ right to decide on their energy mix, research results of the programme established by this Regulation could potentially contribute towards a climate-neutral energy system in a safe, efficient and secure way.

(4) In order to ensure the continuity of nuclear research at Community level, it is necessary to establish the Research and Training Programme of the Community for the period from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027 (the ‘2026-2027 Euratom Programme’) so that its duration is aligned with that of the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 laid down in Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 . The 2026-2027 Euratom Programme should continue carrying out the key research activities of the previous Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for years 2021-2025 established by the Council Regulation (Euratom) 2021/765 (the ‘2021-2025 Euratom Programme’), with the same objectives and using the same mode of implementation.

(5) The Commission’s report on the interim evaluation of the 2021-2025 Euratom Programme highlighted the relevance of that Programme’s different features. According to the report, those features include:

(a) the wide research portfolio supporting nuclear safety, security and safeguards, radiation protection and non-power applications;

(b) EU added value for fission research;

(c) support for stakeholders through improved safety and the knowledge base linked to safety issues of the long-term operation of current nuclear power plants;

(d) preparations for the safety, security and safeguards case for advanced nuclear systems;

(e) further developing fusion research by improving governance; and (f) defining programme priorities and identifying more credible and realistic paths. The report concluded that those features should be maintained in the 2026-2027 Euratom Programme.

(6) The conception and design of the 2026-2027 Euratom Programme is set against the need to establish a critical mass of supported activities. This is to be achieved by establishing a limited number of specific objectives focussed on safe use of nuclear fission for power and non-power applications, maintaining and developing necessary expertise, fostering fusion energy and supporting the policies of the Union and its Member States on nuclear safety, safeguards and security.

(7) The 2026-2027 Euratom Programme is a crucial part of the Union’s efforts to further develop technological leadership and promote excellence in nuclear research and innovation to ensure the highest standards of safety, security, safeguards, radiation protection, safe spent fuel, radioactive waste management and decommissioning in the nuclear field, in accordance with the programme objectives set out in this Regulation.

(8) As all Member States make use of radioactive materials, it is important to ensure the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, as required by the Council Directive 2011/70/Euratom , in order to avoid imposing undue burdens on future generations. The 2026-2027 Euratom Programme should continue to improve and support research and development relating to technologies and competencies in the area of spent fuel and radioactive waste management.

(9) Within the 2026-2027 Euratom Programme, fusion energy research should be implemented in accordance with the European Fusion Roadmap, which outlines the research and developments required to provide the basis for an electricity-generating fusion power plant, and with Council Decision 2007/198/Euratom . In the short-to-medium term, the key step should be the completion of the construction and initial operation of ITER and a vigorous fusion research programme should complement the European activities on ITER in order to support the future ITER operations and the preparation for a first fusion power plant.

(10) By supporting nuclear research, the 2026-2027 Euratom Programme should contribute to achieving the objectives of the Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (‘Horizon Europe’) established by Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council and should facilitate the implementation of the Europe 2030 strategy and the strengthening of the European research area.

(11) The 2026-2027 Euratom Programme should seek synergies with Horizon Europe and other Union programmes, from their design and strategic planning, through project selection, management, communication, dissemination and exploitation of results, to monitoring, auditing and governance.

(12) The 2026-2027 Euratom Programme’s actions should be proportionate, without duplicating or crowding out private financing, and should have a clear European added value. This will ensure consistency between the actions of the 2026-2027 Euratom Programme and Union State aid rules, avoiding undue distortions of competition in the internal market.

(13) While it is for each Member State to choose whether or not to make use of nuclear power, it is also acknowledged that nuclear energy plays different roles in different Member States. The 2026-2027 Euratom Programme will also contribute through its research activities to fostering a broad discussion among all relevant stakeholders regarding the opportunities and risks of nuclear energy.

(14) To address the needs for education and training, the 2026-2027 Euratom Programme should offer support through financial contributions so that researchers in the nuclear field become eligible to benefit from Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions on an equal footing with researchers in other fields.

(15) This Regulation lays down a financial envelope for the entire duration of the 2026-2027 Euratom Programme which is to constitute the prime reference amount, within the meaning of point 18 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources , for the European Parliament and the Council during the annual budgetary procedure.

(16) Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council (the ‘Financial Regulation’) applies to the 2026-2027 Euratom Programme. The Financial Regulation lays down rules on the implementation of the Union budget, including the rules on grants, prizes, procurement, indirect management, financial instruments, budgetary guarantees, financial assistance and the reimbursement of external experts. Rules adopted on the basis of Article 322 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) also include a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget.

(17) The types of financing and the methods of implementation under this Regulation should be chosen on the basis of their suitability to achieving the specific objectives of the actions and to deliver results, taking into account, in particular, the costs of controls, the administrative burden, and the expected risk of non-compliance. For grants, this should include consideration of the use of lump sums, flat rates and unit costs.

(18) Particular attention should be paid to ensuring adequate participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the private sector in general. Quantitative and qualitative assessments of SME participation should be undertaken as part of the evaluation and monitoring arrangements.

(19) The activities developed under the 2026-2027 Euratom Programme should aim at eliminating gender inequalities and promoting equality between women and men in research and innovation, in accordance with Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty on European Union and Article 8 TFEU. The gender dimension should be integrated into research and innovation and followed through at all stages of the research cycle.