Press Release: EU and Japan reach agreement on a broader approach to fusion energy

Europe and Japan will confirm their agreement on a so-called “Broader Approach" to fusion energy on 22 November 2006. This agreement will create a privileged partnership complementing ITER, the major international fusion energy project signed the previous day in Paris. The partnership of ITER includes Japan, Russia, Korea, China, India and USA, with the European Union hosting the project at Cadarache in France. This new "Broader Approach" agreement commits the EU and Japan to work together on projects, in particular the design of a high-tech materials testing facility, which will complement research in ITER and set the basis for the construction of a future demonstration fusion power plant (DEMO). The agreement last ten years, and represents about €340m of European investment.