Die Gründe für das Scheitern
Die Gründe für das Scheitern
Why the EAEC failed
TextBeziehungen zu den Vereinigten Staaten
Letter from Max Kohnstamm to Richard W. Cook (Washington, 8 May 1958)
TextOn 8 May 1958, Max Kohnstamm, Head of the Euratom delegation for nuclear cooperation with the United States, writes to Richard W. Cook, Deputy General Manager of the US Atomic Energy Commission, to enquire about the type of nuclear reactors that will be put into service in the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC).
Reply from Richard W. Cook to Max Kohnstamm (12 June 1958)
TextOn 12 June 1958, Richard W. Cook, Deputy Director-General of the US Atomic Energy Commission, describes to Max Kohnstamm, Head of the Euratom Delegation for nuclear cooperation with the United States, the type of nuclear reactors that have been delivered by his country to the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC).
Memorandum of Understanding regarding the proposed Joint Nuclear Power Programme between Euratom and the United States (Brussels, 29 May 1958)
TextOn 29 May 1958, in Brussels, the United States and the six Member States of Euratom sign a memorandum setting out the terms of the joint agreement for technical cooperation in the field of nuclear energy.
Letters from Richard W. Cook to Max Kohnstamm (12 June 1958)
TextOn 12 June 1958, Richard W. Cook, Deputy Director-General of the US Atomic Energy Commission, gives Max Kohnstamm, Head of the Euratom Delegation for nuclear cooperation with the United States, a large number of details about the conditions surrounding the supply of enriched uranium to the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC).
Agreement between the US Administration and the European Atomic Energy Community (Washington, 18 June 1958)
TextOn 29 May 1958, in Brussels, and on 18 June 1958, in Washington, the United States and the Commission of the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) sign an agreement of principle on closer cooperation to promote the peaceful use of atomic energy.
Outline of the proposed United States–Euratom Program (June 1958)
TextOn 23 June 1958, the United States and the six Member States of Euratom approve a programme of cooperation in the area of nuclear energy which covers both the supply of uranium and the construction of several nuclear power plants in Europe.
Message from President Dwight D. Eisenhower to Congress (Washington, 23 June 1958)
TextOn 23 June 1958, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower gives an address to the US Congress in which he emphasises the importance of the nuclear cooperation programme signed that same day in Brussels by the six Member States of Euratom and the United States.
Address given by Enrico Medi (Brussels, 8 November 1958)
TextOn 8 November 1958, on the occasion of the signing, in Brussels, of the scientific cooperation agreement between the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) and the United States, Enrico Medi, Vice-President of the Euratom Commission, emphasises the strategic significance of the nuclear cooperation programme.
Communiqué from the spokesman of the EAEC Commission (Brussels, 25 May 1964)
TextOn 27 May 1964, the Euratom Commission officially announces the conclusion of an agreement with the United States for the establishment of a new cooperation programme which will focus on the development of rapid reactors for energy purposes.
Probleme im Zusammenhang mit Euratom
Swearing-in of Étienne Hirsch (Luxembourg, 19 February 1959)
BildOn 19 February 1959, at the Villa Vauban in Luxembourg, Étienne Hirsch, former Commissioner-General of the French National Planning Board, is sworn in as President of the Commission of the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).
Étienne Hirsch and Joseph Bech in front of Villa Vauban (Luxembourg, 19 February 1959)
BildOn 19 February 1959, at Villa Vauban in Luxembourg City, Étienne Hirsch (on the left), former Commissioner-General of the French National Planning Board, who has just been sworn in as President of the Commission of the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), talks to Luxembourg Foreign Minister Joseph Bech (on the right).
Debates in the European Parliament (22 September 1964)
TextOn 22 September 1964, disappointed by the results secured in the area of nuclear integration, the Italian Member of Parliament and Member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Energy, Mario Pedini, warns his colleagues of the dangers faced by the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom).
"Soll der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft der Todesstoß versetzt werden? in La France catholique (25. März 1966)
TextAm 25. März 1966 hinterfragt die französische Zeitung La France catholique die tatsächlichen Gründe für das Scheitern der Politik Euratoms und fordert eine Neuorganisierung der Forschungsprogramme der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (EAG).
‘The European nuclear crisis’ from L’Europe en formation (January 1969)
TextIn January 1969, in L’Europe en formation, French leader-writer Francis Gérard describes the crisis dogging Euratom and analyses the reasons that led to the relative failure of plans for a European Atomic Community.
Der Streit um die verschiedenen Reaktortypen
Address given by Mario Pedini to the European Parliament (22 September 1964)
TextOn 22 September 1964, Mario Pedini, a Member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Energy, addresses the European Parliament in an effort to defuse the ‘nuclear reactor systems war’, which is dividing proponents of natural uranium and those who prefer enriched uranium.
"Der Krieg um die Reaktorsysteme wird nicht stattfinden" in Communauté européenne (Oktober 1964)
TextDie Wahl zwischen natürlichem und angereichertem Uran steht Anfang der sechziger Jahre im Mittelpunkt zahlreicher Debatten. Diese Auseinandersetzung ist besser bekannt unter der Bezeichnung „Krieg um die Reaktorbaulinien“.
Tenth general report on the activities of the Community (March 1966 to February 1967)
TextIn its tenth general report on the activities of Euratom, the Commission of the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) draws up a table showing the primary uranium-supplying countries and gives a breakdown of the investment made in prospection for this mineral.
"Bereits neun Milliarden Kilowattstunden erzeugt" in Communauté européenne (Juli-August 1966)
TextIn den sechziger Jahren gibt Europa die mit natürlichem Uran betriebenen Reaktoren auf, die als zu teuer betrachtet werden, und entscheidet sich nach und nach für angereichertes Uran, das importiert wird.
'The end of the "war of nuclear reactor systems": the lessons to be learned' from Europe (19 November 1969)
TextIn his editorial of 19 November 1969, Emanuele Gazzo, Editor-in-Chief of Agence Europe, expresses the hope that France’s decision to stop using natural uranium in its reactors will revive Euratom on the back of a more Community-based approach.
'French nuclear policy betwixt the United States and Europe' from Le Monde (1 December 1969)
TextOn 1 December 1969, the French daily newspaper Le Monde analyses nuclear policy in Europe and criticises the lack of cooperation between the various European states.
Das Forschungszentrum Ispra
'Gronchi inaugurates the Ispra reactor' from L'Unità (14 April 1959)
TextOn 14 April 1959, the Italian Communist daily newspaper L’Unità reports the opening of the Joint Reseach Centre (JRC) in Ispra and considers Italy’s role in Community nuclear energy.
"Wo steht Euratom?" in Communauté européenne (Oktober 1960)
TextIm Oktober 1960 beginnt die Europäische Atomgemeinschaft (EAG oder Euratom) mit dem Bau mehrerer gemeinsamer Forschungszentren. Das größte im Bereich der Kernenergie befindet sich in Ispra an den Ufern das Lago Maggiore in Norditalien.
"Das gemeinsame Forschungszentrum von Euratom beginnt mit der Prüfung eines neuen Reaktors zur Stromerzeugung" in Le Monde (23. Dezember 1961)
TextAm 23. Dezember 1961 beschäftigt sich die französische Tageszeitung Le Monde mit den laufenden Plänen im Kernenergiebereich im Gemeinsamen Forschungszentrum von Ispra (Italien).
Das Forschungszentrum Ispra
Construction of the ECO reactor in Ispra (1962)
BildThe Ispra site in Lombardy is one of the four research establishments in the Euratom Joint Research Centre in Europe. In 1962, major work is carried out in Ispra for the construction of the building to house the future ECO reactor (Expérience Critique Orgel).
Construction of the ESSOR reactor in Ispra
BildView of the construction work on the ESSOR reactor (from ESSai ORgelExpérience Critique Orgel) shortly before it is commissioned.
View of the room above the ESSOR reactor in Ispra
BildView of the room located above the ESSOR reactor in Ispra from which the charging of the reactor can be monitored. This room is only accessible when the nuclear reactor is stopped. The photo shows two technicians observing the introduction of a driver element.
Overall view of a workshop in the Ispra Nuclear Research Centre
BildOverall view of staff employed in one of the workshops at the Ispra Nuclear Research Centre in Italy.
Decontamination of the Ispra I nuclear reactor
BildTechnicians in protective clothing decontaminating the Ispra I nuclear reactor in Italy.
Replacement of the fuel rods at the Ispra I reactor
BildTechnicians in protective clothing replacing the fuel rods at the Ispra I nuclear reactor in Italy.
The Belgian nuclear industry
Nuclear Research Centre in Mol, Belgium
BildThe Research Centre for the Applications of Nuclear Energy, later known as the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK-CEN), is founded in 1952 in Mol, Belgium.
Overall view of the Mol reactor
BildThis photo shows the BR 2 (Belgian Reactor 2) reactor at the Mol nuclear power plant, commissioned in 1962 and operated jointly by the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre and Euratom.
The German nuclear industry
Construction of the European Institute for Transuranium Elements in Karlsruhe (1962)
BildIn 1962, as part of the Euratom programme, the initial work is begun for the construction of the European Institute for Transuranium Elements in Karlsruhe, the Federal Republic of Germany.
Institute for Transuranium Elements in Karlsruhe: B wing — hot cell laboratory
BildView of the B wing of the Institute for Transuranium Elements in Karlsruhe. The photo shows engineers at work in the hot cell laboratory.
Research Centre in Jülich (1962)
BildOverhead view of the Nuclear Research Centre in Jülich (near Aachen in West Germany), associated with the Euratom programme of research and training in the nuclear field.
Construction of the Gundremmingen nuclear power plant
BildView showing the construction of the reactor at the Gundremmingen nuclear power plant, in the Federal Republic of Germany, due to be commissioned in 1966.
Construction of the safety tank at the Gundremmingen nuclear power plant
BildIn 1964, the safety tank of the nuclear power plant in Gundremmingen, in the Federal Republic of Germany, is subjected to inspection before becoming operational in 1966. This plant is part of Euratom’s nuclear programme.
Die französische Atomindustrie
Joint Research Centre in Pierrelatte, Drôme
BildEquipment inside the Atomic Research Centre in Pierrelatte, Drôme.
Charles de Gaulle in Pierrelatte (25 September 1963)
BildOn 25 September 1963, French President Charles de Gaulle visits the nuclear power plant in Pierrelatte, in the department of Drôme.
Nogent-sur-Seine nuclear power station
BildSituated 120 km east of Paris, the Nogent-sur-Seine nuclear power station is the first to be built on the River Seine.
Nuclear power plant in Chinon, Indre-et-Loire
BildIn 1957, work begins on the first French nuclear power plant, Chinon A1, known as ‘La Boule’. It is commissioned in June 1963, and is followed by Chinon A2 (1965–1985) and Chinon A3 (1966–1990). The photo shows reactors I, II and III of this plant.
The Dutch nuclear industry
Dutch nuclear site in Petten (1962)
BildAerial photograph of the reactor and laboratories of the Petten nuclear site. The Petten high flux reactor (HFR) is operated in accordance with the agreement of 25 July 1961 between Euratom and the Netherlands.
Nuclear research site in Petten, the Netherlands
BildAerial view of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Petten, the Netherlands, which participates in the Euratom programme in the nuclear field and houses the Institute for Advanced Materials (IAM).
Inside view of the Petten nuclear reactor in the Netherlands
BildInside view of the high flux reactor (HFR) at the nuclear site in Petten, the Netherlands, which would participate in Euratom’s research activities in the field of nuclear energy from 1 November 1962 onwards.
Die Euratom-Krise
Map showing the main nuclear reactors in the EEC (1962–1963)
BildMap showing the nuclear reactors in the various countries of the European Community. The size of the circles is proportional to the productivity of the sites. The reactors already in service are shown in black, and those which are under construction and planned to be completed before 1967 are shown in blue.
"Die Zukunft Euratoms" in L'Express (21. Mai 1964)
TextAm 21. Mai 1964 beschreibt die französische Wochenzeitschrift L'Express die Gründe für das Dahinvegetieren der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (EAG oder Euratom) und macht sich Gedanken über deren mögliche Zukunft.
‘Crisis in Euratom?’ from Nieuw Europa (March 1965)
TextIn March 1965, Nieuw Europa, the monthly publication of the Dutch European Movement, speculates on the difficulties impeding the operation of the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC).
Debates in the European Parliament on the European Atomic Energy Community (18 October 1966)
TextOn 18 October 1966, Italy’s Eduardo Battaglia, Vice-President of the European Parliament, notes the failure of Euratom and its inability to rise above the national ambitions of the Member States.
"Zusammenarbeit mit Euratom nutzen" in Le Figaro (5. Dezember 1966)
TextAm 5. Dezember 1966 untersucht die französische Tageszeitung Le Figaro den Nutzen und die Unstimmigkeiten der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (EAG oder Euratom).
Die Euratom-Krise
Specifications of reactors in service (1967)
TabelleTable showing the various types of reactors, their power and the date of their connection to the grid in France, Belgium, Germany and Italy during the 1960s.
"Um Europa aus der Krise zu führen" in Communauté européenne (November 1968)
TextDie Europäische Kommission veröffentlicht 1968 ein „Weißbuch“ mit einer Bestandsaufnahme der bisher im Rahmen der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (EAG oder Euratom) durchgeführten Forschungen und schlägt Verbesserungsmöglichkeiten für die Funktionsweise der Gemeinschaft vor.
‘A new chance for Euratom?’ from Nieuw Europa (June 1969)
TextIn June 1969, Nieuw Europa, the monthly publication of the Dutch European Movement, speculates on the future prospects of the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC).
'Pierre Sudreau: towards a comprehensive European industrial strategy' from Le Monde (1 December 1969)
TextIn an article published in the French daily newspaper Le Monde on 1 December 1969, Pierre Sudreau, President of European Movement France, gives his views on the failure of Euratom and calls on European countries to revive the idea of a European nuclear industry.
‘The Community needs an integrated science and technology policy’ from Le Monde Diplomatique
TextIn December 1969, in the French monthly publication Le Monde Diplomatique, Théo Lefevre, Belgian Minister for Science Policy and Planning, emphasises how important it is for the Six to develop a common industrial policy.